China’s Principle Stand over Kashmir

(Indo-Sino Visa Issue proving a Prinking Pain )

By Zaheerul Hassan

China refused to issue visa to a very high level Indian Defence delegation since one of the top commanders Lt-Gen B S Jaswal was General Officer Commander of Northeran Area. It is notable here that General V K Singh, the Army chief was supposed to lead the delegation. Anyhow New Delhi has canceled defense exchanges with China after Beijing refusal. It is pertinent to mention here that General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Area Command is responsible for Jammu & Kashmir, a state that China and Pakistan consider it disputed territory. Jammu and Kashmir. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is likely to raise the issue with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi's visit to India on October 26-27, in the trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of India, China and Russia which will be held in Bangalore.

China has always maintained his principle stand over Kashmir issue and has also claimed over Jurisdiction of Arunachal Pradesh. The border dispute with China was inherited by India from British colonial rulers, who hosted a 1914 conference with the Tibetan and Chinese governments that set the border in what is now Arunachal Pradesh. China has never recognised the 1914 McMahon Line and claims 90,000 sq km, nearly all of Arunachal Pradesh (about 2000 sq kms). India accuses China of occupying 8,000 sq km of its territory in Kashmir. In 1962, China has captured most of area and voluntarily withdrew back to the McMahon Line. Beijing has stated that it does not recognise Arunachal Pradesh. The border between China and India has never been officially delimited. China's position on the eastern part of the border between the two countries is consistent. Not a single Chinese government recognizes the "illegal" McMahon Line. For China, the McMahon Line stands as a symbol of imperialist aggression on the country and thus the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh" dispute is China's most intractable border issue. Because the gap between the positions of China and India is wide, it is difficult for both nations to reach consensus.

On the other hand, Pakistan does not have any border dispute with China and according to “Boundary Agreement” of 1963; she ceded 5,180 sq. kms to her.   China always favoured Pakistan stance over Kashmir and never acknowledge Indian illegal rights over Kashmir valley. She also knows that one of the aims of US is to contain China and in this context India is one of the most favourite allies of America.  She is well aware of the fact that New Delhi always sheltered Dalai Lama’s and supported his stance over Tibet.  The china position is directly connected to Pakistan argument on Kashmir too. She always condemned Indian brutality against Kashmiries innocent people. Her ties with Pakistan are ever lasting and deep routed too. Recently despite Indian hue and cry, she announced the supply of two nuclear plants to Pakistan. India always tried to damage the relations between China and Pakistan. Her Intelligence agency RAW has even targeted Chinese engineers working on projects in Pakistan and Nigeria in the last few years. Reportedly, recently warning has been issued to Punjab and other provinces that again some foreign sponsored terrorist has planned to target Chinese individuals participating in various development projects in Pakistan.

In fact, China at number of times denies visas to Indian officials and citizens of Kashmir and Arunachal since Pakistan and China both give separate status to The Chinese embassy has been issuing visas for some time to passport holders from Jammu and Kashmir on a separate sheet of paper rather than stamping them in their passports, which is the norm with other Indian citizens. They have given stapled visas earlier to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, over which China very rightly claims its sovereignty. Similar practice is also use to be followed in Pakistan with regard to India.

Actually the tension between two countries keeps on prevailing since China’s inception. The border dispute remained extremely troubling and disturbing between them. Indo-Sino War 1962, high border tension of 1986 and 2009 always posed danger of nuclear war in the region. Thus, in establishing close ties India always preferred Soviet Union and US over China. However the visa issue further confirmed the trust deficit between two capitals. It does suggest a new level of tension between India and China. Indian top brass is very much upset due to China’s stance over Kashmir and refusal of visa to serving general. In this regard a renowned Indian leader Bhattachrjea expressed in a statement that if the Chinese are beginning to highlight the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir, then it’s a matter of great concern and anxiety which means Trust deficit is growing.

It is well know established fact that India is interested to have a permanent seat in UN Security Council. The lollipop in the shape of seat would be backed by her master US but in this connection again great hurdle in her way is China. Srikanth Kondapalli, a China expert at the Jawaharlal Nehru University declared visa issue and Kashmir dispute as pinpricks which could be used as a bargaining chip for a seat in the UN Security Council. 

Therefore, New Delhi government has to think seriously if she is interested to go for some bigger regional roles then she has to act like that. She has to first resolve bilateral issues with her neighbouring countries like China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Kashmir Issue is also directly related Water Dispute between Pakistan and India. India must realize that Pakistan and China are regional nuclear states. Any ignition or spark can be converted into flame fire because of foolishness Indian approach towards the regional conflicts.