China releasing a Blue book reflecting its softening stand on Arunachal Pradesh as well as reversing its anti-India posture, at an official function coinciding with the visit of India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to Beijing on May 10 last, is only justification of my prediction.
"The possibility of 1962 repetition is remote," my prediction in "Incursion row fizzles out, '1962-like fear' turns into UPA victory" in 3rd May 2013 edition of this daily (Arunachal Front), was vouched by many analysts including the Washington Post - The study that shows why China and India probably won't clash over border dispute, two days later.
India claims China is occupying 38,000 sq. km. of territory in the Aksai Chin plateau in the western Himalayas, while China claims around 90,000 sq.km. of land including Arunachal Pradesh. There was no concrete outcome even after 15 rounds of talks.
Dropping of its aggressive posture on Arunachal and other contentious issues in the Blue book, crafted carefully to avoid expressing grouse on issue like the border dispute and the presence of spiritual Tibetan leader Dalai Lama in India, is a louder message that Beijing wants early solution to the border row.
The move is significant as Chinese new President Xi Jinping met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Durban on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on March 14 this year, and held talks on border dispute, within days of Premier Li Kequing assuming office that reflected the importance China attached to its strengthened ties with India.
Li had insisted on his trip to India even going against protocol while his office insisted Singh reciprocates (unlike any of his predecessors), confirming China's changed attitude towards New Delhi.
Li would take up the border issue with Singh on his May 19 trip to New Delhi.
"The Blue book, mostly written by scholars in Yunan University and published in Chinese, intended to inform ordinary Chinese people about the rise of India as a fast developing and powerful country. The tone is positive throughout the book, Ma Jiali, one of the contributors and a researcher at the Communist Party School (CPS), has been quoted as saying.
"Only basic details are given about controversial issues like the border dispute. There's no attempt to instigate negative feelings about India," Ma said, adding "The South Tibet (Arunachal) issue is discussed as part of the border problem but without any details".
China has emerged the craftiest global traders after the Westerners as its largest carriers shipped Christmas gifts for sale in the western world after its economy took a nose drive, particularly after the collapse of toy industry including popular Barbie, Polly Pocket and "Cars" movie items since 2003.
Fast growing India with 121 crore population is the biggest market for China, which has already won trade war against India long ago. Its products are selling throughout North East including in Arunachal Pradesh. Moreover, bilateral trade has soared, with China becoming India's biggest trading partner.
Two-way trade jumped from USD 5 billion in 2002 to nearly USD 75 billion in 2011, but declined slightly last year because of the global economic downturn. Trade remains heavily skewed in China's favor, another source of worry for India.
In my paper at a national seminar on "Voices from the Border and beyond: India's response to Chinese claim on Arunachal Pradesh, at Itanagar (9-10 Mar 2012), I had concluded with a piece of advice to then honourable Chinese President Wen Jiabao to send a crash message to Rastrapati Bhawan to come by road to Bumla Pass to break the political border and embrace the humanity with Nehru's Panchasheel and Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai, the spirit Nehru had envisioned to unite both the Asian giants to placate USSR and USA.
If Barak Obama could seek Manmohan's help after American economy collapsed during 2009 global meltdown and China suffered the worst, why can't you become another Napoleon Bonaparte to draw a line on your right palm to become conquerer of humanity to rewrite history? Is Chinese and Indian blood not red? Do we not cry and laugh in the same language?
I would urge Premier Li to accept my advice. President Pranab Mukharjee with PM Manmohan would receive him even at Bumla with 'Vasudhaiva kutumbakam' philosophy, and who knows he could qualify for a Peace Nobel along with Nehruji (Posthumously).
Wish you godspeed Li, if you want to win!
Attn: News Editors/News Desks: The views expressed in the above article are those of Mr. Pradeep Kumar, Editor-in-Chief, Arunachal Front.
