Will the elephant and the dragon finally be able to match their steps? All eyes seem to be on foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale's visit to China. The visit comes of relations between India and China, on the backfoot. The Wuhan spirit might have wooed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the warmth has cooled. China refuses to budge on designating Masood Azhar as a terrorist—a lone dissenter with 14 out of 15 members of the United Nations Security Council members in favour. And this has come to the fore to become a rather prickly thorn in the path.
However, there are indications that things might change. America is planning to push for a new Azhar to be blacklisted— forcing a discussion and a vote. This is a situation that is designed to call out China publicly to defend its technical hold—which of course, is paper thin—in the United Nation Security Council. This pressure might cause China to find a way out. At a media briefing recently, the Lu Kang, the foreign ministry spokesperson, indicated that the issue was close to a “settlement''. This could hint at a possible deal that India and China would have reached.
“It depends on how the Chinese and Pakistani discussions are proceeding,'' said Jayadeva Ranade, president of Centre for China Analysis and Studies. “China is feeling the pressure, especially after President Trump is putting economic pressure on China.''
However, Ranade didn't expect there to be a “breakthrough'' in Gokhale's vist. “The foreign secretary visit is to keep the relations between the two countries on even keel,'' he said. For its part, India has issued a statement reiterating its stand. “We have shared with China all evidences of terrorist activities of Jaish-e-Mohammad and its leader Masood Azhar,'' a foreign ministry press release read. “It is now for the 1267 Sanctions Committee and other authorized bodies of the U.N. to take a decision on the listing of Masood Azhar. India will continue to pursue all available avenues to ensure that terrorist leaders who are involved in heinous attacks on our citizens are brought to justice.''
India, for its part, has refused to participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative invitation. This was expected but it is a red rag to the Chinese. No doubt these two issues—Azhar and BRI —would have loomed large on the visit. A statement issued by the ministry of external affairs, described the meeting as “regular diplomatic consultations'' between Gokhale and Executive Vice Foreign Minister of China, Le Yucheng and Vice Foreign Minister, Kong Xuanyou. The two sides are believed to have “reviewed the progress'' made since Wuhan. “The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, including the Indo-Pacific,'' the press release read.
