Articles by Alka Acharya

Why does a serious, rational and realistic discourse on China in India, and vice versa, still elude our respective grasps? A confusing and diffi cult question no doubt, but one which calls for an analysis of the contradictions that underlie India-China relations. This relationship is scrutinised in the context of the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's recent state visit that could have been marred by the earlier row over the Chinese "incursion" in Ladakh, but for an understanding that the relationship would not be made hostage to the boundary dispute.

The recent extraordinary outpouring of public animosity in India and China towards each other should give us pause and encourage introspection. When the only space that India and China seem to be focused on occupying is the geopolitical, when the dynamics are mainly about power balancing, when only higher growth and trade statistics are at stake and when vital issues are bandied about cynically as "cards" in a great game, the stature of two of the oldest civilisations in the world is immeasurably lowered. It bears repeating that situations appear intractable not because we are unable to see the solution; rather, it is because we are unable to see the problem.

There is little doubt that India and China are moving on the path of normalisation of relations - albeit, not quite with fluidity and ease. At best they have acquired a fair degree of political comfort, at worst, they are merely conflict-free, though suspicion-prone.

Wen Jiabao?s forthcoming visit to India comes during an extremely cordial phase of India-China relations, one that has seen a new buoyancy in several spheres, especially trade. While the visit acknowledges the changing global and regional dimensions of international diplomacy, both sides are now equally convinced of each other?s strategic concerns. This affords new hope to an amicable resolution of past disputes that have long mired in suspicious relations between the two nations.

The near-hyperbolic response to prime minister Vajpayee's visit to China shows how far removed the India-China relationship has been from normalcy. It would appear that we shall keep talking of China but not quite with it.