MAY 2015
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POINT<br />
OUT<br />
INDO CHINA<br />
“the summit may have disappointed those expecting<br />
a dramatic breakthrough on the border dispute with<br />
china,” the senior diplomat said adding that “such<br />
expectations frankly, are unrealistic. there’s no political<br />
consensus in india on what a border resolution would<br />
imply. nor have the chinese shown any inclination they<br />
want to resolve the dispute.”<br />
those expecting a dramatic breakthrough<br />
on the border dispute with China,” the<br />
senior diplomat said adding that “such<br />
expectations frankly, are unrealistic.<br />
There’s no political consensus in India on<br />
what a border resolution would imply. Nor<br />
have the Chinese shown any inclination<br />
they want to resolve the dispute.”<br />
Even so the prime minister did urge his<br />
Chinese hosts to address issues that held<br />
the relationship back: He asked them<br />
to clarify the Line of Actual Control,<br />
maintain peace on the border (meaning<br />
no incursions) and remove irritants like<br />
stapled visas to Arunachal residents. None<br />
of these may happen, which is why there<br />
is a dispute<br />
Nor was there any response to Modi’s<br />
request that China be more forthcoming<br />
about sharing hydrological data year<br />
round on trans boundary rivers. Evidently,<br />
the mandarins are not willing to go beyond<br />
the monsoon level data they presently<br />
share, nor is there any satisfaction for India<br />
on Beijing’s plans to dam the Brahmaputra<br />
in Tibet.<br />
As part of military to military CBMs,<br />
military exchanges will be stepped up as<br />
also joint exercises. But the prime minister<br />
is also expected to have clearly spelt out<br />
India’s concerns about China’s plans<br />
to build a $40 bn corridor to Pakistan<br />
through POK, India’s strategic backyard.<br />
The Chinese may have probed his views on<br />
the ambitious “One Belt One Road” that<br />
would integrate Eurasia through a grid of<br />
26<br />
maY <strong>2015</strong>