New Delhi
11 August 2009
India wasted no time in reminding China that one of the Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence, which the Chinese side says it abides by, stresses respect for
territorial integrity and sovereignty. Therefore, any comment on the state of India-China
relations should be made only after careful judgement.
India was responding to media queries on the article by a Chinese analyst, who said
China should back aspirations of Tamils, Nagas, Assamese and Kashmiris for their
respective independent states, like in Europe.
The article, published by a prominent Chinese think tank under the pseudonym of Zhan
Lue (or strategy), also argued for encouraging Bangladesh to give a push to the
independence of West Bengal and wresting the 90,000 square kilometres of Indian
territory in "Southern Tibet" or Arunachal Pradesh.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman Vishnu Prakash said here Tuesday that the
Chinese side has conveyed to India that in approaching the bilateral relations, China
abides by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. One of these principles stresses
respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.
"We continue to maintain that opinions and assessment on the state of India-China
relations should be expressed after careful judgement based on the long-term interests
of building a stable relationship between the two countries," Prakash said.
He thought the article in question appeared to be an expression of individual opinion and
did not accord with the officially stated position of China on the bilateral ties conveyed to
India on several occasions, "including at the highest level, most recently by the State
Councillor Dai Bingguo during his visit to India last week."
In a press release issued towards the end of two-day talks between Dai and National
Security Adviser MK Narayanan, it said that the "Chinese side believes that both
countries need to promote the relationship with a higher and strategic perspective and
continue to uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence."
The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence or Panchsheel are:
* Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty;
* mutual non-aggression;
* mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs;
* equality and mutual benefit; and
* peaceful co-existence.
Prakash added that both sides were agreed that outstanding issues, including the
boundary question, should be resolved through peaceful dialogue and consultations,
and with mutual sensitivity to each other's concerns.
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