reuters
Beijing, August 3: China is taking an increasingly tough line on a border row with India amid a rising crescendo of nationalism in state media, and President Xi Jinping looks set for an awkward encounter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a multilateral summit next month.
Diplomats say Beijing would like to resolve the border issue before a summit of the BRICS nations – that also groups Brazil, Russia and South Africa – in the Chinese city of Xiamen in early September, and ensure nothing dampens what China wants to be a show of cooperation and friendship among developing countries.
But that could be tough. This Wednesday, China ramped up the rhetoric, accusing India of “concocting” excuses over the illegal entry of the South Asian nation’s military into Chinese territory.
“China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights and interests,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The two sides’ troops are confronting each other close to a valley controlled by China that separates India from its close ally, Bhutan, and gives China access to the so-called Chicken’s Neck, a thin strip of land connecting India and its remote northeastern regions.
Responding, India reiterated an earlier line that work by a Chinese road crew in the sensitive frontier area would have changed the status quo and urging “utmost restraint” by all sides.
“India considers that peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas is an important pre-requisite for smooth development of our bilateral relations with China,” New Delhi’s foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday evening.
A source with ties to the military, who spoke recently to a senior Chinese officer involved in the standoff, said China has no appetite for conflict with India but could not be seen to be weak.
For the time being, China looks ready to keep things calm, said another Asian diplomat, familiar with China’s thinking on the issue. “China really wants to resolve this ahead of the BRICS summit. It doesn’t want anything to affect the atmosphere,” the diplomat said. “The gloves could come off after the summit though.”
‘Nepal committed to One-China policy’
Kathmandu: Nepal has always been committed to the One-China policy and continues to remain “sensitive” towards the possibility of any anti-China activities being carried out from its territory, a minister said here Thursday. Addressing a function organised to mark the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and China, Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet said the cultural, religious and economic ties between the two countries were further getting consolidated. “The Nepal Government is always sensitive towards the possibility of any anti-China activities being carried out from the Nepali territory,” the minister said. Basnet said Nepal had always been committed to the One-China policy which states that there is only one Chinese government and that the island of Taiwan is a breakaway province that belongs to China. China’s non-interference in Nepal’s domestic affairs and assistance in the time of natural disasters were testimony that both neighbours share strong, friendly and cordial relations, he said. China’s ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong said Nepal and China had old and deep-rooted relations extended to the people’s level. “The Chinese Government is always positive toward the development of Nepal,” she said, recalling the Chinese assistance for the construction of some big projects.
