India Must Remain Alert in Maintaining Relations With China

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna has told Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and member of the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament), Tarun Vijai, that the government is keeping a watchful eye on the Chinese activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and in this connection has established contact with the Chinese Government. Krishna said: 'We fully realise our responsibilities.'

The Chinese Government has claimed that their activities in Gilgit-Baltistan are in connection with projects that their experts have taken up from the Pakistani Government. Addressing an army seminar, the Commander in Chief of the Indian Army said, on the Line of Actual Control is a worrying development from the army's viewpoint. He said that it would be very easy to mobilize the Army for the enemy on this road. Also it will be easy for them to keep an eye on Indian activities.

The US media have also expressed their apprehensions that the Chinese Army has established its bases over there. In a distance of less than a mile, the Chinese have put up spy cameras, so that they can keep an eye on the Indian border. China has made claims to the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and at the same time extends apparent friendship. Despite it, China does not hesitate with its highhandedness.

Trade Ties and Border Dispute

India has based its foreign policy on friendly relations with all its neighbors. This is very important for peace and domestic progress. For India's good relations with China, this is doubly important, for China has become a tremendous world power in economic and military terms. This can also be seen from the fact that the Chinese currency yen is at par with the US dollar, and in the near future, if the yen overtakes the dollar it will not be a big surprise in the world markets.

India also has made a place for itself in the world markets. Setting aside political differences, India has given emphasis to trade relations and extended help to China. Trade relations continue to grow between the countries. Along with this, the India-China border and PoK, Chinese activities are a cause for worry. The Indian Government will have to take a serious view of the matter.

Along with attempts at improving relations with China, India will have to remain vigilant on the border with China. Because of negligence the incidents of 1962 should not be repeated. Incidents of the past are sufficient proof of the fact that under the influence of "Panchsheel" (five principles of peaceful coexistence) the slogan of Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai (Indians and Chinese are brothers), the Chinese stabbed Indians in the back, which left India helpless and all alone in the India-China war. Because of India's support for socialism, all Western powers had not extended their support for India. Without going into the details of this humiliating incident, one can say that the country had to pay a big price for its negligence.

Protective Infrastructure War

Despite India's efforts to restore cordial relations, China attitude remains the same. China started giving separate visas to Kashmiris who wanted to visit China. Despite India's insistent protests that Kashmir is an inseparable part of India, the separate visa can only be termed mischievous. On one hand, China is interested in increasing trade relations with India, and on the other, it has made it easy to access the border between the countries and is busy building roads for that purpose.

India is also sending a message to China that it is not negligent toward the border as it were during the 1962 India-China. This is the reason India will have to pay a protective infrastructure war. India also is a nuclear power.

Demand of Situation

What is the demand of the situation is that India should strive for complete self-reliance. It should be fully armed with tanks and warplanes, regardless from where they have to be got. At the same time its foreign policy should be planned in such a way that it supports its defence preparedness. Its foreign policy should be planned in such a way that it supports defence preparedness. Instead of its foreign policy being anti-China, it should be in harmony with it.

With a neighbor like China, which has usurped a large portion of India's border region, it should not be ignored for the purpose of trade. To be careful in relations with China is the most important and needed move.