Op-Ed Contributors
A good and timely restart for neighbors-in-arms
By Swaran Singh (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-07 07:52
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The infrequent military interactions between China and India reflect the complex nature of their bilateral ties. But their military relations have undergone a transformation. In tune with the larger global trend, the two countries' militaries have indeed expanded, though gradually, their overall charter and direct bilateral interactions.
Starting from November 2003, the two sides have held joint drills, expanded from December 2007 to include counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism exercises. The same month also saw the launch of their annual defense dialogue (ADD), the third round of which began in Beijing yesterday.
What is elating about the third China-India ADD is that in three years it has evolved into the format originally conceived by both sides. Defense Minister A.K. Antony represented India at the first dialogue, followed by Defense Secretay (highest official in the ministry) Vijay Singh leading the second round in New Delhi in 2008.
The neighbors held parlays in Beijing in December 2007 and New Delhi the next year, which were accompanied by naval and counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency drills in Kunming, Yunnan province, and Belgaum, in South India. They, however, did not hold any talks last year, which was marred by some negative media reporting on "border incursions" in both countries.
That they are holding the two-day third ADD within four weeks of their successful joint effort to strike a deal at the Copenhagen climate change conference reflects their positive spirit. This augurs well for their overall rapprochement, which has evolved around their military confidence-building measures, something that the ADD aims to expand and consolidate.
In terms of outcome, this upgrade of ADD is expected to expand their agenda that has so far been defined only loosely. Apart from sharing their perceptions on regional security issues, including Afghanistan, the third ADD is expected to explore the possibilities of expanding the scope of bilateral exposures for their militaries through regular mutual visits, conferences and training in each other's military academies.
More specifically, the ADD is expected to focus on evolving new confidence-building measures. For a year, "border incursions" had been a major irritant for both sides.
For this purpose, India's defense secretary's delegation includes officials from the Directorate of Military Operations as well as the Indian Army's Eastern Command that looks after India's eastern sector of its border with China.
The two countries could not consolidate their gains after a series of small but ambitious joint exercises between their navies and armies because of last year's irritants and polemics. The joint drills are powerful confidence-building measures and should be revived.
The neighbors should also discuss how to hold joint air force exercises. There have been occasional reports over the past six years that the countries might hold joint air exercises, but nothing has materialized.
While Chinese officials and experts are concerned over India's redeployment of forces and Sukhoi fighters and refurbishing of its border infrastructure, their Indian counterparts are worried over a wide array of military capabilities displayed at the parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
Underlining China's military modernization and its close cooperation with India's neighbors, the 2008-09 report of India's Ministry of Defense records New Delhi's commitment to engaging Beijing "to seek greater transparency and openness" on its defense policy and postures. This makes the third round of China-India ADD very timely and important, to say the least.
As China and India begin working together on the larger global issues such as climate change and hold the first BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) meeting this year, the third ADD could lay the foundation and make worthwhile contribution to their efforts by lowering tensions across their borders in the fragile environs of the Himalayas.
The author is a professor of diplomacy and disarmament in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
(China Daily 01/07/2010 page9)
