Shedding old inhibitions

Context: India must reach out in the region to further own interests by shedding old inhibitions in dealing with China.

Tensions in Indo- China relations:

• Unresolved borders: There have been violent exchanges in the past between two armies.

• India had a military presence in the Galwan valley, which was overrun during the Sino-Indian conflict of 1962. 
• After partition, Pakistan illegally ceded the Shaksgam valley in J&K to China in 1963. 

• Unease with Indian infrastructure projects: in the northern border areas along the LAC.

• China’s concern: India’s presence in the Daulat Beg Oldie through the building of roads and airport infrastructure.
• The region is also sensitive due to the restive Xinjiang region, where China has kept millions of Muslims in custody today.

• Trade imbalance with China: $54 billion especially in the electronics sector.

• Chinese companies assemble 70% of Indian mobile telephones. 
• China is trying to dominate 5G services in India through its Huawei conglomerate. 
• Entire technical management is in the hands of the Chinese with no technology transfer.

WAY FORWARD:

• Security partnerships: India needs to forge security partnerships with countries in its Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean neighbourhood. 

• Need to respond positively to requests from Vietnam, with the supply of weapon systems to counter Chinese maritime threats. 
• It should expand military cooperation with friendly regional countries. 

• Comprehensively restructure: of economic relationship with China by looking for better alternatives like Taiwan.

• Indian companies can sign agreements for large projects in areas like computers, communications, and other electronics industries with companies in Taiwan. 

• Verifiable disengagement: Tripartite meetings with Russia has stressed over the importance of peace and cooperation; Focus on the process of phased withdrawal to move towards peace.