'Nobody here treats India as an enemy'

Fifty-three-year-old Professor ZHANG YUNLING, an economist, is Director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing. He does not consider himself a South Asia specialist, but has taken an active interest recently in the development of Sino-Indian relations. He spoke to me, through an interpreter, setting out a quite positive, rather than downbeat, view of bilateral relations and emphasising economic relations and development interests and priorities:

"I VISITED India in 1995 and had wide discussions on Sino-Indian relations. Two issues made a deep impression on me. First, the suspicions aired by many Indians when I gave talks about China's strengths and potential strengths. These suspicions related to China-Pakistan relations. Many evidently considered China a major 'threat'. As an economist, I had a rosy picture: China was developing and India's economy would also speed up. But clearly, (building) closer economic relations was not the whole story. The second issue was that our economic relations were weak because our bilateral trade was so small. There was big room for improvement.

"After returning, I discussed why many in India have so much suspicion of China. There are two reasons, in my view. The first is a psychological matter. China, through its reform, has developed very fast and its economy seems more successful than India's. Secondly, it is a matter of regional relations. India has not, like China, got more and more integrated and involved in regional cooperation arrangements. China was earlier very suspicious, but its active participation in regional cooperation arrangements has been very helpful. We have not lost, we have benefited from this. India, it seems, has not moved to that stage.

N. RAM

"Bilateral political relations have improved very quickly. I was happy to see that we have made a lot of progress relating to military matters, information exchange and so on. We have a very good base, the foundation. But suddenly, this setback has happened.

"When China was suddenly made a target through the (Indian) Defence Minister's talk, many Chinese were surprised. Very quickly, following the nuclear tests, we realised why we were targeted. People here think it is totally wrong. If India decides to develop nuclear weapons, it should not make China a target.

"India has sought to enhance its power in world affairs through these tests. Just the opposite has happened. This course has proved so costly. Despite the reform, the Indian economy is in trouble, foreign investment has been affected, and sanctions have been imposed. In a word, the economic environment for India has deteriorated.

"In 1996 and in early 1997, the environment was so good. Everybody talked about the Indian economic take-off. The capital flows to India were good. Now this kind of trend has stopped for some time to come.

"The Government of India's actions have had a very, very serious impact on bilateral relations. Ordinary people (in China) thought we had a very good environment, but suddenly they have changed their feelings. Targeting China following the nuclear tests has created a very big distrust between our peoples. The situation needs time to improve.

"Historically, geographically, politically, in every sense, we should not become rivals or enemies, we should cooperate. Border issues and disputes should not be a serious problem. China's agreements in this regard with Russia and Central Asian countries are good examples. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 1988 visit to China was a major event.

"I remember Deng Xiaoping's famous statement, 'Put aside the border dispute. Leave it to later generations.' It is a great idea. The major focus should be on economic development. If your economy is weak, you have no place in the world. If you do not have enough economic strength, you will be excluded from global relations.

"I don't think China will make it a policy to be hostile towards India. China still tries hard to improve relations with India. It is concentrating on its economic development and will not make India an enemy. The border dispute will not be activated.

"The central issue is how India treats China. What kind of place will India give China in its foreign relations? First, as a developing country. Secondly, we are neighbours. We should cooperate. If India and China cooperate, the world will be peaceful. This will be the greatest historical event in the world after the Industrial Revolution.

"However, there is the political attitude of the present (Indian) Government. The central issue is: What is India's policy towards China? A friend? Or an enemy?

"The world has changed a lot. Economically, we have so many interests in common, which argue for cooperation. If India wants to play a big role in the region and the world, it should establish normal and equal relations with others. India should give up traditional ideas formulated during the Cold War.

"Let me re-emphasise: India should have a clear policy on how to treat China. When I was in India (in 1995), I answered questions about China-Pakistan relations. During the Cold War this relationship had some special strategic feature, but now it has become a normal relationship. China does not want to use its relations with Pakistan to challenge India. China does not want to be involved in India-Pakistan disputes.

"China's relations with Pakistan are close. We can develop a parallel close relationship between China and India. Today there are no conflicts between China and Russia. Why should we use Pakistan to challenge India?

"After the end of the Cold War, every country wants to go for partnership relations. There are no ideological enemies - only neighbours, closer neighbours, and distant partners. Who gets the advantage depends on who can use the opportunity to develop economic relations.

SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY
India's Defence Minister George Fernandes with the visiting Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, General Fu Quanyou, in New Delhi in April 1998.

"I hope India joins the CTBT as quickly as possible. It is the only way to bring India out of its isolation and create a better environment for its economy, capital investment and (foreign) trade.

"I don't think people here, even after the nuclear tests, treat India as an enemy. Nobody does here. They look for a change in policy. I hope the Government of India can change its policy and make economic development the major focus.

"There is no way India and Pakistan can use nuclear weapons to solve disputes. If India and Pakistan cannot solve their disputes, it will not hurt China at all.

"We fully support your views and standards (against nuclear weaponisation in South Asia). This very dangerous process must be stopped."

Table of Contents

Home | The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar