World

China seeks better military ties with India

Indian military delegation arrived in the Chinese capital on Sunday for a six-day visit.

Afp June 21, 2011

BEIJING: China said Tuesday it hopes to boost military cooperation with India as the two Asian powerhouses resume defence ties that were frozen for a year over a visa dispute.

An Indian military delegation arrived in the Chinese capital on Sunday for a six-day visit that is expected to include a trip to the restive northwestern region of Xinjiang, Indian officials have told AFP.

"The military exchange is an important part of China-India relations," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing.

"China would like to make considerable effort with the Indian side to enhance exchange and cooperation between the two militaries."

India suspended military exchanges in July last year after Beijing refused to provide a proper stamped visa to the then head of India's Northern Army Command, which controls the region of Indian Kashmir.

China controls a sliver of Kashmir and regards the region, which is also split with Pakistan, as disputed territory. India has been angered by its practice of providing special stapled visas for visitors from Indian Kashmir.

Major General Gurmeet Singh, who is leading the eight-member delegation, heads the Delta Force, part of a specialised anti-insurgency unit deployed in Kashmir.

Suspicion pervades relations between the two Asian giants amid border disputes over Kashmir and the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The two also fought a short war in 1962, while the presence in India of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, adds to the tension.

COMMENTS (21)

joke | 13 years ago | Reply @Modasar haha, apply this theory on your own situation, and compare both..

yo! | 13 years ago | Reply @BruteForce The Chinese are earning influence over Pakistan without offering much -- you are wrong, they are offering ALL WEATHER FRIEND title, and that is a big praise for a country like pakistan,. and wanna more??

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mud | 13 years ago | Reply @Modasar relax man,, we can imagine your pain,

ashwin | 13 years ago | Reply Fastest growing economies of the world are negihbhors of Pakistan, and here Pakistan is running around the world looking for aid and looking for strategic depth in a failed state (Afghanistan).Chinese are smart they are trying to earn billions of dollars from their rival in Asia and spending billion of dollars deploying arms against India, it is like India is Paying China to arm itself to the teeth and threaten India. This is the Food for thought, hope Pakistani can borrow some intelligence from China.

ashok sai | 13 years ago | Reply Considering both the nations populace equals half of the globe's, it is utmost important that both these countries maintain good relationship with each other. Hope someone will learn few lessons from this !!!

TruthIsGood | 13 years ago | Reply @Abbas...as I see it only two supposedly Indians have replied to this article and nothing in their comments can be called gutter. Which part is the gutter? Perhaps it became gutter when it registered in your mind, isn't it? You seemed a rare reasonable pakistani to me but still you have not overcome your prejudices? We dont wish ill for anybody if doesn't do so for us. Ask your country if it has not been doing the same too. Johar pointed out some facts, whether you wanna believe it or not is your problem. This same attitude caused the pakistanis not to realize when India raced passed them in economic development. Only god knows where this attitude will take pakistan to. Its already a mess.

Sunny Deol Pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply China is a wise business nation. Islamic countries should learn from Chinese Muslims how to live like true Muslims.

sumeet | 13 years ago | Reply @Modasar,yeah the whole world and whole universe belongs to china.infact china is the universe.get a life dude.china has held much more disputed land than any other country on the planet.

ikmundapunjabi | 13 years ago | Reply @Modasar: and what land exactly are we talking about?have any facts or just a lol.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply China was a closed country and no friends after they parted ways with the USSR. Pakistan helped China with ping pong diplomacy and first direct contacts with the US. Now China is one of the largest trading partners of the USA, earning several hundred billion dollars as trade surplus. Similarly the size of China/India trade is fast increasing. With all its so-called independent policy, China never opposed the US in Security Counsel with a veto in recent past. While US invaded Iraq, China opposed it but instead of vetoing it, they “abstained”. Similarly the invasion of Afghanistan, Libya, etc., China did not stand in the way of the US. Like Pakistani establishment, China uses empty rhetoric but never actually voting against the US which would mean using the veto power. Let us be honest and examine why would China, the fastest growing economy in the world need Islamic Republic of Pakistan and not the second largest and fast expanding economy in Asia? If we were People’s Republic of Pakistan, and not Islamic Republic, the Communist China might have some soft corner for us. However, with Islamic fundamentalism spreading fast in Pakistan Red China would not be too comfortable with that. After we were caught in bed with OBL, no secular country in the world would be happy with us. The point is we can bank on America, China or Europe but that is not the right solution. We have to stand on our own two feet and be friendly with most countries of the world as equal partners.

BruteForce | 13 years ago | Reply What if the Chinese suddenly realize its foolish to provoke an emerging India and in the process jeopardize a booming Trade-based relationship, worth Billions? What reason will be then for China to support Pakistan, like the US has done for the past 64 years? Has it started already? We all hear from visiting dignitaries from Washington about Billions of $$$s of aid to Pakistan, every time they visit. What about the Chinese? Remember in last year's floods the initial Chinese offer was much lesser than even India's! The Chinese are earning influence over Pakistan without offering much! For a Country with the largest forex reserves, this is best-of-both-worlds scenario.

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply Maybe China is going for "strategic depth" - if so lets hope it works better for them than it has for Pakistan.

Modasar | 13 years ago | Reply China is smart..those seven-sisters states of india...China wants it so badly cuz it belongs to china, china got most of indian land from india lol.

Nirvan | 13 years ago | Reply The Chinese as other global players will necessarily look out for their interests and use Pakistan ( as also Nepal, Burma, Bhutan) as a pawn in their negotiations with India. Pakistan needs to clean house and must become its best friend by refocusing on their people, economy, education, land reform and hopefully have a strong government that can kep the military in their barracks. Soldiers should remain invisable. Show of might is a pathetic effort at projection of power which is not there.

Abbas | 13 years ago | Reply come on guys, its just a talk. WE should be happy that India and China are becoming friends. We know China will not leave Pak as it does complete with India and we can and I repeart only we Pakistani can provide china the safest and cheapest sea route which is necessary for China to progress and become number 1 in Asia. Now that being said, If India and China can become better friends then it increases our chances to become better friends with India too. This is a good step and lets hope all three countries settle their disbutes and become less of an enemy. One more thing for the Indians--Stop commenting only gutter. I know you mind is gutter but can you just try to use it positively rather then wishing ill for Pakistan?

Observer | 13 years ago | Reply The Chinese know better..... not to fight a fair fight !!!

Bambayyyaa | 13 years ago | Reply Is China becomming a Fair weather friend from a all weather friend ??? As the saying goes .... Never belive a Chinaman ...

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply Chinese are indeed aware of booming Indian economy and its ever increasing military strength, matching their military potential. China is also wary of strategic relationship between India and US and clearly wants to break this co-operation by these military exchanges. However, Pakistan would be deeply worried to see its all weather friend getting so close with its number one enemy.

faraz | 13 years ago | Reply Chinese are wise people; they wont stick to a failed state like us for long

Sameer | 13 years ago | Reply This is a CIA/Mossad/RAW conspiracy to deprive Pakistan of its all-weather friend.

TightDhoti | 13 years ago | Reply Damn it! Pakistani security experts who have been wishing for a China-India endgame will be disapointed! We should teach our Chinese all weather freinds how to properly treat an enemy

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