Also missing from the discussions between Modi and Xi was any substantive mention of their long-standing border dispute. The two sides are far from reaching any resolution of the dispute. The Kashmir issue, which directly affects China as it claims territory, and indirectly through its relationship with Pakistan, did not come up either. Nor did India’s main security headache, the terrorist threat emanating from Pakistan, China’s closest de facto ally and recipient of vast infrastructure investment.
India and China agreed to "remain sensitive to each other's concerns". Naturally, over the past few decades, China and India have managed to push their disputes into the background in order to cooperate with each other, most importantly on trade and investment, but they even started working together on security, in particular to fight regional terrorism.
The missing issues are a sign of both leaders’ attempt to show that they can get along despite their disputes. However, it remains to be seen if this is really the case or indeed just a facade. Not least, there is still deep-rooted suspicion, and relations were not long ago at a new low when the two countries’ armies almost clashed in a border standoff at the Doklam pass in 2017. Another issue that looms over the relationship between China and India is the Tibetan government-in-exile (in Dharamshala), which China does not recognize. Finally, China is increasingly seen to be encroaching on India’s sphere of influence, especially in the Indian Ocean. India has opposed China’s presence in the Indian Ocean and is also seeking like-minded partners in nations such as Australia, the U.S., and Japan (the so-called "Quad"). Given the number of issues and disputes in the Sino-Indian relationship, it is unlikely conflict can be prevented for the sake of trade. Another confrontation is likely to come.
Copyright : WANG ZHAO / POOL / AFP
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