The PLA at Home and Abroad - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

pulse of the other, even as suspicion of each other’s
long-term strategic intent remains. This is reflected
in the recent decision by Beijing and New Delhi to
raise the status of their long-standing border talks to a
“strategic dialogue.” 43 This agreement emerged from
the 13th round of boundary talks held in August 2009
headed by India’ National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan
and Chinese State Counselor Dai Bingguo.
In these talks, boundary issues did not dominate the
discussion but broadened to include the Afghanistan-
Pakistan situation, global issues, trade, counterterrorism,
and an agreement to establish a hotline between
New Delhi and Beijing. With Dai Bingguo also heading
the Chinese delegation to the U.S.-China Strategic-
Economic Dialogue (SED), New Delhi is undoubtedly
pleased that Beijing holds India in such high esteem.
Moreover, closer Indian defense links with the United
States did not trigger increased Sino-Indian tensions
but contributed to improved relations.
Central Asia: The Shanghai Cooperation
Organization.
China’s contemporary security concerns with Central
Asia emerged with the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet
Union. 44 The disintegration of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR) created both new states on
China’s inner Asian frontier and a weakening of Moscow’s
influence in the region. China sought and gained
mutually agreed upon and demilitarized borders with
Russia and the newly independent states of Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The instrument created
to implement China’s strategy was the Shanghai
Five formed in 1996 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan joined the five
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