In his address delivered at the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday reiterated the virtues of good relations between neighbours, peace and cooperation and amity in the region as envisaged six decades ago in the Panchsheel treaty among India, China and Myanmar. He stressed the need to revisit the five guiding principles of Panchsheel, which, he said, had been endorsed by a host of international organisations and instruments.
The Chinese President said no country should "monopolise international affairs" and with a word of caution against countries that use the “law of the jungle” by which the “strong bully the weak,” he called for strengthening South-South Cooperation and bettering North-South dialogue.
Mr. Xi spoke of adhering to territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression and non-interference in internal matters, and peaceful co-existence — the basics of Panchsheel, and said these continue to remain relevant and grow. He said that “All good things must evolve,” while asserting a country’s rights over its foreign policy, he said no other state could be allowed to dictate its foreign relations.
India's Vice-President Hamid Ansari reciprocated its commitment to Panchsheel with by calling attention to the need for greater interaction between the people of India and China in all fields for stronger bilateral relations.
He said,“India believes that globalisation should transform the world into, as Mahatma Gandhi had envisaged, ‘a federation of friendly, interdependent nations,’ without domination or exploitation. Panchsheel is the basis of such a world order. We need to work together to develop a framework for equitable globalisation, for genuine multilateralism, and for seeking common and fair solutions for challenges that transcend national borders and threaten humanity,”.
Mr. Ansari further said,“We gather here today to reaffirm the timeless relevance of Panchsheel in establishing a peaceful, stable, prosperous and secure world. As the co-originators of Panchsheel, it is our duty to revitalise our friendly relations and to promote cooperation as the only way forward towards the realisation of our common goals of progress and prosperity for our peoples,” .
President of Myanmar Thein Sein acknowledged the “significant role” played by China and India in helping the economy of Myanmar and said having consistently followed the Panchsheel directives, and a non-aligned foreign policy, his country would cherish friendly ties with all nations, especially its neighbours.Thein Sein further said, “Myanmar is confident that the five principles will play a greater role in interstate relations,”.
INDIA HONEST reminds of the recent events to understand the logical contravention in Chinese Panchsheel perception , of that first related to Chinese thrust on marine foundry of Vietnam by forcibly installing oil rig in a disputed waters even for that huge riots broke out in Vietnam after China installed that oil rig .
The Chinese navy had also remained in a constant standoff with the Philippines over a region called the Scarborough Shoal, while China’s relations with Japan have been tense since China last year declared an air defence identification zone over disputed islands that made the United States, Japan’s ally, to promptly responded by sending two bombers through the zone.
IH understands that most of the Xi’s Panchsheel comments seemed to fly to cover up in the face of China’s increased aggression in recent years as its military and economic might have grown, while the Chinese President commented just opposite when he said,“Flexing military muscles only reveals the lack of moral grounds or vision rather than reflecting one’s strength,”.
It is now proved beyond doubt the the belligerent China is hell bent on flexinf muscles in both the areas of disputed South China Sea along with the land borders with neighbours including India and all the rehearse on Panchshhel is to cover that ploy.
Though Indian foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said China had agreed to Indian concerns in the meeting with the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at a bilateral meeting but avoided answering a specific question on whether the recent and continuing aggressions and intrusions by the People’s Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control had been raised, but indicated that by saying “maintenance of peace and tranquillity on the border was important”.
INDIA HONEST raises serious concerns on the issue of Beijing’s recent release of a map that depicts Arunachal Pradesh to be part of China, though it was amply answered by Sujata, when she said, "Cartographic depiction does not change the situation on the ground. Our position about our territory is well known.”
IH further argues that India must take note that the declining growth rate and exports in China are the important economic factors that determines China's present foreign policy based on commercial actions first , and as for now the Chinese leadership has visualised and understood well that the resurgent India under the leadership of new prime minister Narendra Modi will be much hard and difficult ahead in next one or two years to manoeuvre dominantly by the China as was done with Manmohan Singh government in last one decade or even as in sixties, when Panditji was at helm.
Modi believes in "Na to ankhe dikhayenge na ankhe jhukaker bat karenge" in the true sense, and hope the Chinese must have started counting well on this.