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India seeks to tone down threat perceptions from Beijing
New Delhi, May 30: With the upcoming crucial visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to China, India today sought to tone down the threat perception from Beijing, saying, `Important developments` marked the progress of Sino-Indian ties in 2002-2003.
New Delhi, May 30: With the upcoming crucial visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to China, India today sought to tone down the threat perception from Beijing, saying, "Important developments" marked the progress of Sino-Indian ties in 2002-2003.
Noting that the progress in ties between the two Himalayan neighbours were marked by completion of the process of exchange of maps of the middle sector on the line of actual control, activation of Indo-China dialogue on mechanism to counter terrorism and approval of tourist destination status to New Delhi by Bejing, the defence ministry annual report said, "Of late, India has commenced some cooperation with armed forces of China.”
The report, which was slated for release during the budget session of Parliament, was understood to have been delayed and made public today as, according to sources, the mandarins in the south block rephrased paragraphs devoted to China after the successful visit of the defence minister George Fernandes to that country last month.
However, India did not underplay China's continued close defence relationship with Pakistan and threat from its missile to major Indian cities. The report said this threat had been rather augmented with china building submarine launched ballistic missiles and that the asymmetry in terms of nuclear forces was still "pronouncedly in favour of China.”
"Nothwithstanding these concerns", the report said India would continue to seek a long term and stable relationship with China based on Panchsheel, mutual sensitivity to each others concerns and commitment to the process of dialogue to resolve all outstanding differences.
Bureau Report
Noting that the progress in ties between the two Himalayan neighbours were marked by completion of the process of exchange of maps of the middle sector on the line of actual control, activation of Indo-China dialogue on mechanism to counter terrorism and approval of tourist destination status to New Delhi by Bejing, the defence ministry annual report said, "Of late, India has commenced some cooperation with armed forces of China.”
The report, which was slated for release during the budget session of Parliament, was understood to have been delayed and made public today as, according to sources, the mandarins in the south block rephrased paragraphs devoted to China after the successful visit of the defence minister George Fernandes to that country last month.
However, India did not underplay China's continued close defence relationship with Pakistan and threat from its missile to major Indian cities. The report said this threat had been rather augmented with china building submarine launched ballistic missiles and that the asymmetry in terms of nuclear forces was still "pronouncedly in favour of China.”
"Nothwithstanding these concerns", the report said India would continue to seek a long term and stable relationship with China based on Panchsheel, mutual sensitivity to each others concerns and commitment to the process of dialogue to resolve all outstanding differences.
Bureau Report