ID :
91541
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 15:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/91541
The shortlink copeid
India has taken note of assertiveness by China: PM
Ajay Kaul
Washington, Nov 24 (PTI) In unusually strong remarks,
Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh has said India has
taken note of "certain amount of assertiveness" by China
lately, an apparent reference to its objections over Beijing's
provocative steps.
Coming against the backdrop of China's statements on
Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India and other issues, Singh,
however, said he did not "fully understand" the reasons for
its actions.
"There is certain amount of assertiveness on the part of
Chinese. I don't fully understand the reasons for it. That has
to be taken note of," he said during an interaction at the
US Council for Foreign Relations here.
The Prime Minister did not elaborate but the statement
assumes significance considering that China has recently been
involved in some provocative steps like issuing visas to
residents of Jammu and Kashmir on stapled sheets of paper
rather than passport, to send out a message that it does not
consider the state to be a part of India.
Besides, China has objected to the Prime Minister's
visit to Arunachal Pradesh, is participating in projects in
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir despite India's objections and
mentioned Indo-Pak relations in a Joint Statement with the US.
Singh, who also responded to questions on Indo-Pak
relations, denounced Pakistan's "selective" approach in the
fight against terrorism.
The Prime Minister said he did not want to speculate
about India's response in the event of another 26/11-type
attack.
"I hate to speculate and sincerely hope that such sort of
eventuality does not arise," Singh said.
The Prime Minister also indicated India's readiness to
resume dialogue with Pakistan provided it abjures terrorism
and comes to the table with "good faith and sincerity".
"It is my solemn hope that India and Pakistan can
together move forward to write a new chapter in the history of
the sub-continent...I have said that we are ready to pick up
the threads of the dialogue, including on issues related to
Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Asked about the reference to Indo-Pak relations in the
joint statement issued after talks in Beijing between US
President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao,
Singh said, "What happens between President Obama and
President Hu is not our direct concern".
Upset over the statement, India had made it clear there
was no role for any third country in its relations with
Pakistan.
Asked about China's economic growth, the Prime Minister
said there was no doubt that its performance was superior to
that of India.
But Singh hastened to add that he would not like to
choose the Chinese path and instead stick to the one pursued
by India.
"There are several dimensions to human freedom which are
not always caught by the numbers with regard to the GDP. So I
do believe that even though Indian performance with regard to
GDP might not be as good as the Chinese, certainly I would not
like to choose the Chinese path. I would like to stick to
Indian path," Singh said explaining why Indian model of
economic reform was preferable.
"No doubt Chinese growth performance is superior to
India's growth performance. But I always believe that there
are other values which are important than the growth of GDP --
respect for fundamental human rights, respect for rule of law,
respect for multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious
rights," Singh said.
The Prime Minister said India might seem to be
indecisive at times, but "once democracy decides on the basis
of wide-ranging consensus, any reforms that are undertaken
will be far more durable, far more effective than the reforms
introduced by the writ of ruling group in a non-democratic
set-up."
At the same time, the Prime Minister said world should
be prepared for "peaceful rise of China as a major power" and
"so engagement is the right strategy both for India as well as
the US."
Explaining the Prime Minister's comment on Chinese
assertiveness, official sources said Singh was referring to
Beijing's confidence in laying territorial claims and opposing
high-level visits to Arunachal while citing "sovereignty"
issues.
Singh intended to say that the world had started to
"hear" more of such voices from China and India would have to
"factor this", the sources said.
Indications of the assertiveness came in the run up to
last year's Beijing Olympics, the sources noted while
recalling that China had then been emphasising to all
countries that Tibetans should not be allowed to disrupt the
games. PTI AKK
SDE
NNNN
Washington, Nov 24 (PTI) In unusually strong remarks,
Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh has said India has
taken note of "certain amount of assertiveness" by China
lately, an apparent reference to its objections over Beijing's
provocative steps.
Coming against the backdrop of China's statements on
Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India and other issues, Singh,
however, said he did not "fully understand" the reasons for
its actions.
"There is certain amount of assertiveness on the part of
Chinese. I don't fully understand the reasons for it. That has
to be taken note of," he said during an interaction at the
US Council for Foreign Relations here.
The Prime Minister did not elaborate but the statement
assumes significance considering that China has recently been
involved in some provocative steps like issuing visas to
residents of Jammu and Kashmir on stapled sheets of paper
rather than passport, to send out a message that it does not
consider the state to be a part of India.
Besides, China has objected to the Prime Minister's
visit to Arunachal Pradesh, is participating in projects in
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir despite India's objections and
mentioned Indo-Pak relations in a Joint Statement with the US.
Singh, who also responded to questions on Indo-Pak
relations, denounced Pakistan's "selective" approach in the
fight against terrorism.
The Prime Minister said he did not want to speculate
about India's response in the event of another 26/11-type
attack.
"I hate to speculate and sincerely hope that such sort of
eventuality does not arise," Singh said.
The Prime Minister also indicated India's readiness to
resume dialogue with Pakistan provided it abjures terrorism
and comes to the table with "good faith and sincerity".
"It is my solemn hope that India and Pakistan can
together move forward to write a new chapter in the history of
the sub-continent...I have said that we are ready to pick up
the threads of the dialogue, including on issues related to
Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Asked about the reference to Indo-Pak relations in the
joint statement issued after talks in Beijing between US
President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao,
Singh said, "What happens between President Obama and
President Hu is not our direct concern".
Upset over the statement, India had made it clear there
was no role for any third country in its relations with
Pakistan.
Asked about China's economic growth, the Prime Minister
said there was no doubt that its performance was superior to
that of India.
But Singh hastened to add that he would not like to
choose the Chinese path and instead stick to the one pursued
by India.
"There are several dimensions to human freedom which are
not always caught by the numbers with regard to the GDP. So I
do believe that even though Indian performance with regard to
GDP might not be as good as the Chinese, certainly I would not
like to choose the Chinese path. I would like to stick to
Indian path," Singh said explaining why Indian model of
economic reform was preferable.
"No doubt Chinese growth performance is superior to
India's growth performance. But I always believe that there
are other values which are important than the growth of GDP --
respect for fundamental human rights, respect for rule of law,
respect for multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious
rights," Singh said.
The Prime Minister said India might seem to be
indecisive at times, but "once democracy decides on the basis
of wide-ranging consensus, any reforms that are undertaken
will be far more durable, far more effective than the reforms
introduced by the writ of ruling group in a non-democratic
set-up."
At the same time, the Prime Minister said world should
be prepared for "peaceful rise of China as a major power" and
"so engagement is the right strategy both for India as well as
the US."
Explaining the Prime Minister's comment on Chinese
assertiveness, official sources said Singh was referring to
Beijing's confidence in laying territorial claims and opposing
high-level visits to Arunachal while citing "sovereignty"
issues.
Singh intended to say that the world had started to
"hear" more of such voices from China and India would have to
"factor this", the sources said.
Indications of the assertiveness came in the run up to
last year's Beijing Olympics, the sources noted while
recalling that China had then been emphasising to all
countries that Tibetans should not be allowed to disrupt the
games. PTI AKK
SDE
NNNN
