India-China relation: prospects for cooperation and competition

Zhou Bo

The Sino-Indian relationship has good historic and realistic basis. Historically speaking, the meeting of and interaction between the Chinese and Indian civilizations through the ancient Silk Road is one of the most beautiful chapters of human history.

China and India are the largest developing countries. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative goes west while India's "Act East" extends to the east. They are bound to meet midway.

The ambition of the Chinese people to realize the "two centenary goals" (building a moderately prosperous society by 2020 and a great, modern socialist country by 2050) and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation are quite similar to concept of "India by 2022" (home for all Indians) "New India" (centenary of India's independence in 2047). Both the "Chinese Dream" and "New India" constitute the national rejuvenation of two countries which were once the most developed countries in the world. Both aim to serve the fundamental interests of the people and help them live a safer and better-off life.

In recent years, bilateral military relations have advanced in tandem with the advance of state-to-state relations. And high-level visits, defense and security consultations, border cooperation, joint drills and personnel training have taken place. Ever since 2007, the two ministries of defense of the two countries have held eight rounds of defense and security talks. The two countries' militaries have conducted six joint drills on counter-terrorism named "Hand-in-Hand".

What I would like to highlight in particular is that during the National Day and military festivals, the border troops invite each other for joint celebrations.

The greatest challenge to China and India is the border issue. The issue seems particularly challenging since China has resolved border disputes with 12 of its 14 neighboring countries through peaceful negotiations. It is gratifying that China and India have established a principle of resolving the border issue through three steps. Both believe that the border dispute has to be managed properly, and peace and stability maintained before a fair and reasonable resolution acceptable to both sides can be found. Efforts must be made to prevent small incidents from becoming large to affect the overall bilateral relationship.

As a result of joint efforts, the Sino-Indian border has by and large maintained long-term stability. Not a single bullet has been fired across the border for more than three decades. This is rarely seen in the whole world. It demonstrates that the confidence-building measures adopted over the years have been effective. The peaceful settlement of the standoff in Donglang has once again proven the political wisdom of both sides at test.

Since 1993, quite a few agreements and protocols on maintaining peace and stability in the border areas have been signed by the two governments and the two militaries. And coordination mechanisms on the border issue have been established at different levels.

The confidence-building measures in the military field along the Line of Actual Control in the border areas are concrete and pragmatic. For example, both sides agreed that in the areas where there is disagreement of understanding, the patrol troops of one side will not follow the other side in patrolling. The two countries have set up meeting points where the border troop officers can meet regularly and talk over the phone to maintain contact on border control. Delegations of border troops, neighboring regional commands and younger officers have exchange of visits to deepen mutual understanding and enhance mutual trust.

Now I also wish to talk a bit about the "competition" between China and India. Militarily, there is no such thing as competition, be it in the Pacific Ocean or in the Indian Ocean. China appreciates that 55 percent of India's international trade goes through the South China Sea, but India's trade, like any other maritime trade that goes through the South China Sea, doesn't have any obstacles.

Likewise, China has its own legitimate interests in the Indian Ocean which include primarily the safety and security of the strategic sea lanes, and the safety and security of Chinese property, Chinese investment and the Chinese nationals. The "Maritime Silk Road" proposed by China also goes through the Indian Ocean. In fact, China and India have joined other countries in fighting against piracy in the Indian Ocean since the end of 2008. In 2011, the Indian Navy helped in relieving the Chinese ship, Full City, which was attacked by pirates. And the Chinese Navy has escorted Indian ships.

If the Pacific Ocean can accommodate China and the United States, so can the Indian Ocean accommodate China and India.

The author is a senior colonel and director of the Center for Security Studies, the Ministry of National Defense.