India wants an early resolution of the contentious stapled visa issue with China as allowing it to "fester" for long could lead to a negative impact on the overall relations between the two countries.
Underlinning the seriousness India attaches to the issue, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said, China also knows the importance of the matter and New Delhi cannot accept the status quo on it. "They understand the seriousness and the importance that we attach to this issue because we wanted results. We cannot accept the status quo on this. Therefore, what he (Premier Wen Jiabao) told Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) was that we need to sort this out," Rao told Karan Thapar on CNBC TV 18's India Tonight programme. Noting that the issue should be settled quickly, she said unless it may have a negative impact on the relationship between the two countries. "I am sure the Chinese see the impact of this on the relationship. It has not had a good impact on the relationship," she said, adding that Wen's visit here last week had a "further stabilising effect" on the relationship.
Rao said India has been putting across its message on Jammu and Kashmir, particularly on the stapled visa issue "which directly seems to question our sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir," very clearly that it would like to see more positive statements of support on it from China.
Asked about China being non-committal on supporting India's candidature for a UNSC seat, Rao said China has been looking at the issue "with a lot of interest and they are absorbed in the debate that is developing on this issue." "I think they understand that this particular issue about permanent membership is very important for many of the aspiring members including India," she said, observing that when it comes to the ultimate decision, China is unlikely to "stand in the way". "They would not want to stand against the groundswell," she said.
Asked why the joint statement issued after talks between Wen and Singh did not mention 26/11 and bringing the culprits of the carnage to book, she said one has to be realistic about the Sino-India ties and the kind of relationship Beijing has with Pakistan. "China and Pakistan have a very close strategic consensus on many issues, and the depth of that relationship is known to all of us. So, we have a very realistic appreciation of where we stand with China on a number of these issues," she said.
On why for the first time in 15-20 years, India's commitment to a One-China policy did not figure in the joint statement, Rao said the Chinese side understands New Delhi's long-stated position on the issues and no need was felt to reiterate it. "Because it is assumed that the One-China policy has not changed," she said.
Asked on the media reports that Chinese seem to only accept 2,000 kilometres as the border between the two countries, not 3500, and the missing 1500 is in fact right along Aksai Chin, Rao said the government has been aware of it for some time. "First of all let me say that this is not a position that we came across yesterday or day before yesterday. We have been aware of it for some time. Obviously there are differences of perception, there are divergences between China and India on the length of the border," she added. Queried whether it is an indication from the Chinese that they do not recognise Kashmir as India's sovereign territory, Rao said, "It is really up to the Chinese to clarify that issue." "I think it would be in nobody's interest for this to become an obstacle in the relationship. And that is why we say the ball is in the Chinese court when it comes to stapled visas, when it comes to clarifying their position in such matters," she said.
Asked whether India is worried about China's increasing involvement in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, she referred to China-Pakistan relationship which has acquired momentum over the last five decades, especially after the India-China conflict over the border in 1962. "And it (Chian-Pakistan ties) shows no signs of diminishing. We are completely aware of this. It is not that we have sought to turn a blind eye to it when we engaged the Chinese. What is important now is that we are directly raising issues of concern with the Chinese side in a very candid and in a very forthcoming way," she said. Rao said there is much more confidence in the government about "asserting our positions." When asked about trade ties, particularly about trade imbalences affecting India, Rao said China took the issue trade imbalence "seriously" and they intended to work towards reducing this. Asked about apprehension that Beijing and Islamabad may work together posing for India the unique problem of two troublesome neighbours on the north and the west, she said India will have to go smartly about dealing with such scenarios.
When asked whether it would be a cause for concern if China replaces America as the biggest super power, she said, "It should concern every Indian and I think it should really spur us on to narrowing this divide or this gap in the race with China." "It should not be a relationship defined by competition or rivalry alone because it does not suit either country. Look at the stakes involved. Look at the tasks before us in terms of our development. Look at the miles that we have to cover," she said.
