The Rediff Special/ J N Dixit

The Chinese see no need for a special relationship with India

Recent policy statements by Chinese leaders and comments by foreign observers knowledgeable about China indicate the following concerns and criticalities; China has to structure a stable political leadership in the post-Deng period, which has already commenced. It has to cope with the profound problems of distributive justice affecting the large population of the country.

China's rapid and successful economic modernisation programme has resulted in some parts of China becoming prosperous while others have lagged behind in terms of economic development and levels of prosperity. The asymmetry in internal development patterns can generate political tensions, which have to be countered.

China faces the challenges of reconciling between requirements of environmental protection and economic development and between maintaining standards of human rights while ensuring internal political discipline and stability. China has to deal with ethno-religious fissiparous tendencies, particularly in Tibet and Sinkiang. It also has to cope with the problem of ensuring food security for such a large population.

Given this background, China's desire the creation of an environment of peace and stability in its neighbourhood and in the Asian region to concentrate on its own economic development and national consolidation.

While China declares its firm opposition to all forms of hegemony and insists that its armed forces's capacities are geared only for defensive purposes. China is clear that it will not compromise on its legitimate political jurisdiction over Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong and portions of the South China sea. China has reservations about the US-Japanese security connections and the USA military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. But it also feels that the US military presence to some extent may curb the resurgence of Japanese or Russian assertiveness in Asia.

China's long-term objective, however, is to emerge as a world power. Balancing off the unipolarity of US domination of world politics, though this particular motivation is not articulated by the Chinese. As far as India is concerned, their approach is that India and China should have a good working relationship. India should not become the base for any separatist activities in Tibet against them.

The Chinese do not see the need for any special equation between them and India at present on the strategic or security matters or as a galvanising factor in Asian resurgence. What then should be the shorter term objectives to be achieved, taking advantage of Jiang's visit when it takes places?