NSA attributes Sino-Indian rivalry to China's desire to be numero uno in the region

New Delhi

19 September 2009

Sino-Indian rivalry stemmed from China's wish to become numero uno in this

part of the world, according to National Security Adviser MK Narayanan.

"China certainly sees us as its rival and the issue is that they wish to be the numero uno

in this part of the world," he told Karan Thapar on his Devil's Advocate programme on

CNN-IBN television channel.

Mr Narayanan said India was seen as a rising democratic power and, therefore, there

was rivalry. He was responding to a question about China not considering India as

equal.

Mr Narayanan cautioned that media hype could lead to "unwarranted incident or

accident" that could create problems with China. He acknowledged that incursions were

taking place but said that there was "hardly any increase" in these activities and

situation was not "alarming".

"In terms of number of incursions, there has been hardly any increase. Occasionally

inroads are a little deeper than what it might have been in the past. I don't think so that

there is anything alarming about it. I think we have a good understanding about the

whole issue," he said.

"I really am unable to explain why there is being so much media hype on this question,"

he added.

Asked if over reaction by media could create problems, he replied in the affirmative. "I

have been through 1962. I was aware of the problem then.... What we need to be careful

of is that we don't have an unwarranted incident or an accident of some kind.

"That's what we are trying to avoid. But there is always concern (that) if this thing (media

hype) goes on like this someone somewhere might lose his cool and something might

go wrong."

Mr Narayanan said too much of reporting on this issue could lead to increase in tensions

leading to situation "we wish to avoid".

"I think it is a national security issue. It is not a kind of game that we are playing. The

more you raise people's sort of concern, I mean the tensions would rise and then we

would be facing a situation of a kind that we would wish to avoid," he said.

He replied in the negative on whether there was a sense of appeasement or hesitation or

fear in India when dealing with China.

"I was there in 1962 and I should be more conscious than anyone else. We are careful

and I think it is important and imperative we do not want to get into a situation that we

don't want to be in," he added.