Once bitten, twice shy. This saying aptly describes the contours of Sino-India relations. The recent upsurge of verbal attacks and some aggressive posture by China, has revived the nightmares of the 1962 Sino-India war. Would the current tensions lead to a repeat of 1962? Former National Security Advisor, Brajesh Mishra sheds light on this and many other issues in his interview with Zeenews.com’s Swati Chaturvedi. Excerpts:
Swati: Dalai Lama is going to Tawang. This has obviously angered China. Now in the face of these events what should India do?
Brajesh: As far as I know, India has already clarified that it would not let Dalai Lama to indulge in any political theatrics. New Delhi has also made it amply clear that he is free to go anywhere he wishes in the country. Also, this is not the first time that Dalai Lama is visiting Tawang. It is his fifth visit to Tawang.
Swati: There were repeated incidents of border incursions and now the Dalai Lama episode. What do you think is China’s motive behind these repeated border incursions?
Brajesh: In the last two years, China’s attitude towards us has changed a bit. China has taken a hostile stance against India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In recent times, their media and even some PLA members have struck an anti-India stance. I think the changed attitude might be due to the Indo-US civil nuclear pact which has led Beijing to think that its position is shrinking in South Asia.
Swati: Is China is trying to subdue India in South Asia?
Brajesh: Yes, this is true. They have always tried to engage us in different problems with our neighbours so that we could never play an active role in South Asia.
Since 1962 we have two fronts – one is China and the other is Pakistan. But then, the two have never worked together.
In 1962, we fought a war with China, then in 1965 and 1971 with Pakistan. Then Kargil happened in 1999. But now both these fronts are simultaneously striking a hostile posture. These two nations are now trying to surround India.
I think, we should equip our forces as soon as possible. Our forces should be properly equipped. We are not doing enough in this regard at the moment and I am afraid that in the next five years we might get a bigger jolt than ’62.
Swati: There is an unprecedented military build up by China in recent years. George Fernandes had called China our enemy no 1. Do you think China is the biggest adversary of India?
Brajesh: Look, we have two enemies – China and Pakistan. And if they work together we would have a bigger problem. Now China even sees Japan also as an adversary. But Japan has the backing of United States, which has covered it under nuclear protection. No we do not have the backing of anyone else. We have to protect ourselves only.
Swati: Tibet used to be the biggest trump card against China in international forums. But we have wasted that card. What do you have to say on this?
Brajesh: Tibet was never our colony. It was used as a buffer zone by the Britishers against Russia. But we cannot continue with policies of yore. We have to discard old policies.
China always wanted to be the number one. It sees itself as number two right now. But United States will continue to rule the roost in coming times in world geopolitical scenario. But Russia too has ambitions. It doesn’t want to be number three. Recently, anti-Russian articles too have appeared in China. It wants to cut its future competitors short before becoming number 1 in the next 25 years.
Swati: Recently China has started a new game of providing separate visas to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Why so?
Brajesh: In 1999 (after the Kargill war), they (China) have clearly told Pakistan that the LoC should be respected. After that also they have maintained that the border dispute should be resolved through bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan. Recently they have even offered to mediate in the issue.
They are now working on some projects in PoK, Ladakh. So this is not a visa issue only. But it is a bigger scheme by Beijing to play a bigger role in the world arena.
Swati: How could we tackle this?
Brajesh: There is only one way. India should continue with its economic reforms, liberalisations to boost its economy. At the same time, we also need to work to strengthen our defence forces.
We have to modernise our Army, Navy and Air Forces properly. Nobody can help us in this regard. It is not that we should enhance our security apparatus to attack someone rather it is to defend ourselves.
Swati: We have not given enough attention to our military capability. Do you think we are ignoring a potential threat?
Brajesh: China is certainly building up its military strength. And of course we are not prepared. We have to do a lot to stop a repetition of 1962.
Swati: Do you think China would attack India?
Brajesh: Attacking India is a different thing altogether but certainly Beijing and Pakistan would work together in the coming years to contain us. We must always remember that they (China) want to be the number one. So we must see all these events in that context.
Swati: Parliament had passed a resolution to bring back the thousands of kilometres (Akashi Chin) of land forcefully taken from India by China. Can we ever see that day?
Brajesh: No. I think if we want to settle our border dispute with China we have to give and take something. Now there are also different theories whether that part of the land was ever part of India or not.
There was a resolution on Kashmir also. People of India are even ready to accept the Line of Control as a permanent border….
Adapted By Anil Kumar Satapathy