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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>

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