Rebuilding China-India ties prudently

China-India relations have shown some positive developments of late, particularly the phone conversation between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 20, during which both leaders said they hoped to deepen cooperation and expand exchanges.

India seems to have softened its stance toward China since the BRICS Summit in Xiamen, Fujian province, in September last year. Some high-ranking Indian officials, including Modi and Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are scheduled to visit China within the next three months. And the Modi government has asked officials not to participate in Dalai Lama's programs. These are welcome signs for China.

However, whether these positive turns represent a fundamental change in India's China policy or are just an opportunist move by the Modi government is yet to be ascertained. In fact, as India gears up for the general elections in 2019, some political parties could target China in order to garner votes and thus disrupt the positive momentum in bilateral ties. Therefore, China ought to adopt a rational approach to bilateral ties and be prepared to deal with a worsening situation.