THAT India and China have come close enough to announce a series of measures to “rebuild” their bilateral ties, is a welcome development. The visit of India’s Foreign Secretary Mr. Vikram Misri, thus, can be described as successful -- or purposeful. For, with the two countries agreeing to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and also agreeing in principle to restart direct flights between them, a new chapter appears to have been opened in the book of India-China bilateral relations (that were strained in the past few years). In a recent media interview, Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar had stated clearly that at best, India-China relations could be described as ‘not normal’. He had also indicated that efforts be made to create a sense of normalcy of ties between the two countries.

 

Foreign Secretary Mr. Vikram Misri’s visit to China appears to have opened the doors for normalisation of relations -- at least to some extent. Of course, when the other party is China, then no country in the world can claim to have perfectly normal relations. There will always be the ‘conditions apply’ clause underlining any confidence building measures. Though the world recognises China as a global super power, it also carries strong reservations about how Beijing would react to current developments in any part of the world. Of course, India has proved to be an equal to China in every possible manner -- from military to diplomacy. Over time, Indian leadership has evolved a successful strategic approach to dealing with China.

 

China, too, recognises the Indian growing prowess in terms of economy, diplomacy and military. In the past few years -- after the advent of Mr. Narendra Modi to India’s centrestage -- China has realised that it would be a tough call to take while tackling the Indian challenge. The recent agreements between the Foreign Secretaries of India and China appear to have the potential to draw the two countries closer -- though step by step. No matter that, a promise has emerged on the scene that some sensible working together may now start. True, as Dr. Jaishankar had suggested, India-China relations will always be ‘work in progress’ kind of endeavour. In other words, India and China will have to keep working for a longer-lasting conciliation between them with a painstaking attention to details. The agreement about restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra did not come about all by itself. Aware of the high degree of difficulty in relaunching of the Yatra, India has been building a direct access to Kailash and Mansarovar. When China realised that India was charting an independent course, then its strategists possibly thought it necessary to open a dialogue with India on the issue.

 

Meanwhile, it must be mentioned that despite tensions between them, India and China had continued with mutual trade -- no matter the political provocation. The volume of trade did come down significantly. Yet, the trade links continued -- possibly on the hope that someday things would get normalised. Other exchanges, too, would start picking up speed and weight in time. But when it is dealing with China, India needs to be extremely careful in not over-committing itself on any matter and issue. Of course, both, New Delhi and Beijing are conscious that the two countries will have to start working more systematically and vigorously to rebuild mutual interests in the time to come. Mr. Vikram Misri’s visit has, thus, to be described as a one step forward in the right direction. Now begins the phase of monitoring how the new agreements are given a proper shape and are made functional at the earliest -- of standing on the platform of extreme caution.