Initiatives to restore China-India relations: What are the implications and prospects?
The long-standing strained relationship between China and India came under discussion at the BRICS summit held in Kazan, Russia last week. There, a much-awaited meeting was held between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This is the first full-fledged bilateral meeting between the two neighboring leaders since the border clash in Ladakh in 2020. Where both sides decided to de-escalate the border situation.
Tensions between the two countries intensified after the clash on the Ladakh border. As a result, about 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers lost their lives.
Recently, as a result of this conflict, a new agreement was signed between the Indian and Chinese armies. Where both sides agreed to resume border patrol activities according to a specific schedule.
Geopolitical implications in Asia
Experts believe that the issue of easing the India-China conflict will have a significant impact on Asia and wider international politics.
Geopolitical analyst Zorawar Daulat Singh said that this agreement is the most important geopolitical development for Asia, which can separate India from the Cold War plans of the United States.
India and the United States have long cooperated with each other against China’s territorial ambitions and regional influence. However, through this recent agreement and discussion between China and India, India may be able to determine the direction of its relationship by maintaining some distance from the United States.
Persistent questions and future challenges
However, even after this agreement, many analysts have questioned the clarity and completeness of the border agreement. After that conflict in 2020, China’s dominant presence in some regions was created, which is still considered unresolved.
Prominent strategic analyst Mohan Guruswamy and former military officer Major-General Hemant Kumar Singh have expressed concerns about this issue. According to both, it is still unclear whether the agreement has provided any assurance of freedom from Chinese occupation of Indian territory.
Future of economic relations
A broader economic partnership is an important issue in Sino-Indian relations. After the 2020 conflict, India banned many Chinese apps, including TikTok, and began strict monitoring of Chinese investment.
However, to restore investment relations with China, Indian economic analysts have emphasized that Chinese investment can create jobs in key industrial sectors and help India enter the global supply chain.
The country’s economists have mentioned that there is a need for Chinese investment in India’s electric vehicles, solar panels and battery industries. According to them, the economic partnership can be expanded despite keeping security risks with China.
A message for the West!
Meanwhile, while the issue of the India-China agreement is coming to the fore, India and the United States are also engaged in a political debate. Especially after allegations of Sikh separatists in Canada.
In this situation, India and China are probably trying to send a message to the West through their agreement talks that they are capable of making independent decisions in regional relations, even though they oppose the sponsorship of terrorist groups.
However, Indian strategic analyst Anil Trigunayet believes that through this agreement, both countries are trying to restore a harmonious relationship, which will continue despite the strategic tensions.
(Based on an article by Sanjay Kapoor published in Al Jazeera)
