A Himalayan business pass
Strategically, the Peoples Liberation Army -- one of the dominant players in the Chinese decision-making process towards this region -- may have eyes for the vulnerable Siliguri corridor connecting north India with its northeast. It may not be out of context to point out that when India requested for troop passage routes to its northeast via Bangladesh, President Ershad in a statement in Beijing refused to entertain such request. Besides, as no progress has been achieved on either a nuclear No First Use agreement or "de-targeting" of missiles in Qinghai-Tibet-Yunnan regions, India needs to be on guard.
Given the expansive Chinese infrastructure development programmes in Tibet and border domination efforts, India appears to have woken up belatedly. Although it announced a programme in 1997 for constructing roads in the border areas, progress in this regard is tardy. A plan was announced in March 2006 to build nearly 600 km of road costing about Rs 900 crores and connecting the border areas in five Indian states. But progress on the ground appears to be tardy.
In these circumstances, India needs to weigh carefully whether increase in trade enhances or restricts its political and strategic choices for the coming decades.
Image: This photograph dated August 2003 shows Chinese soldiers at Nathu La on the India-China border
Photograph: Str/AFP/Getty Images
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China misses its chance with India