Bussard Ramjet
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Hello Everyone!
As is clearly evident, India and China have a really antagonistic relationship with each other, each suspicious about the other. This --- in my opinion --- is an aberration in our centuries old relationship, and is detrimental to both of us. We have no reason to be so antagonistic to each other for a number of reasons which I will detail in this post. Hence I would like in this post for both Indian and Chinese members to engage in a constructive debate and come to a mutually beneficial solution.
Why India and China are NOT natural geopolitical enemies:
1. They are on different continents.
Yes, China and India are almost literally on different continents.
How?
I have always wondered as a kid why Europe is categorized as a continent when it has huge land connections to Asia. It is separated by the ural ranges to Asia, so why shouldn't Himalayas, mountain ranges much more taller and impregnable also constitute a boundary. The answer:
The division of continents is largely a western concept according to their needs and wishes. They categorised westerners, the white guys with similar culture as Europeans, the blacks as Africans, the rest as Asians. Why else do you wonder, Russia is still categorized as European. It is a western construct. The 'new world' further brought about the Americas and Oceania.
Hence, if you talk about connectivity as the defining feature for the classification of continents, Himalayas, due to their magnitude literally divided India and China. There were few exchanges between us, our worlds rarely met and we lived in totally different spheres, dominating each of ours.
The whole history of India (the heart of which rests in northern India) has our interactions primarily with Persians, Arabs, Afghans etc. Similarly, for China it has been Japan, Mongols, Vietnamese etc. So the strategic direction of both of our countries is different. We have almost always faced west, controlled our littoral, and tried playing with the middle east (which brought in Islam), while China has looked East and South-East. You can just look at histories to tell about everything.
2. Lack of irreconcilable differences, and historical baggage
Every country has its own mind, its own consciousness. Indians in general don't have too intense feelings about China. Most of the negative comments about China come due to its support for Pakistan, and most in China come due to support for Tibetans. There are border disputes as well, but nothing like what Pakistan/India or China/Japan/Korea have.
3. Similarity in concerns and spirituality
At a deeper level, we are both quite similar. We both follow Dharmic religions, largely want peace, are facing Islamic terrorism, and want our past glory to be restored.
Challenges faced today: (Differences)
Indian complaints:
1. Relationship with Pakistan
The most important difference and source of friction.
2. Relationship with other countries in Indian vicinity that is used as leverage against India by both China and those countries. Case in hand - SriLanka, String of Pearls
3. Border Problem
4. Territorial Problem with Arunachal and Aksai
5. Support for North-Eastern Rebels
6. Damming of rivers in Tibet, fears regarding that, and general fears regarding Tibet.
China:
1. Active support and existence of Tibet Government-in-Exile in Dharamshala.
2. Claims and Stance on Tibet.
3. Border and Territorial Issues.
4. Threat of disruption of supply routes in Indian Ocean
5. Indian unwillingness for China to enter the region
6. Perceived support for containment of China
I have done a lot of research on this topic which is very dear to my heart. I have read a lot about Sino-Indian relations, the 62 war etc. I perceive it to be a case of misfortunes, misunderstandings and tragedies. I seriously want these two ancient civilizations to come together and make a strategic alliance to deter the west.
What is my proposal?
Broadly it is the division of strategic spheres between major countries in BRIC to make it a formal grouping of developed countries who have been excluded in the formation of international rules.
Firstly, specifically these things are needed to be done:
1. China needs to give up Pakistan completely and totally. That will be painful as it is a big strategic ally, where support for China is across the whole spectrum of country. India in return will have to give up totally and utterly the whole Tibetan thing. Remove Dalai Lama and his government publicly, stop support to Tibet, persecute anyone who have refugee status right now, and explain the general public that they have been lied to, and that Tibet has always been under Chinese influence. Both of the actions are irreversible.
2. China needs to give up Arunachal (Southern Tibet) and India needs to give up Aksai Chin. The rest of the border won't be that much a big deal.
3. BRIC will be strengthened as a grouping with shared interests to create a multi-polar acceptable world with recognized spheres of influence.
So basically, India will have the whole of SAARC, Iran, IOR littoral seas (only upto a certain limit, not whole IOR) and a decent level of Arabia.
China gets, South East Asia ( myanmar, thailand, vietnam), Philippines, Mongolia, Japan and Korea.
Russia gets Kazakhstan, western Europe (Excluding Poland, czech republic, austria and balkans), Black Sea, Arctic, Caspian and their littorals.
Brazil gets South America.
We all can then jointly push against western hegemony, and their interference in our region.
4. Each of the BRIC countries will guarantee the other country free passage for trade in its own sphere of influence.
Additional Note:
I think it would also be preferable to exchange Andaman and Nicobar, for Kailash Mansarovar region and Dumbi Valley, largely because a lot of irredentism toward Tibet comes due to those, which are the biggest Hindu spots. This will be beneficial to both the countries.
For India it will take away the biggest 2 headaches of the proximity of Chinese forces to northern plains especially Delhi, and the vulnerability of the Siliguri corridor. It will also give us access to the Tibetan Plateau.
For China, Andaman will give them valuable way to handle South-east asia, and protect their trade routes. Also, it will help convince Indians by taking the only emotional attachment they have to Tibet, by separating the issue of Kailash from Tibet.
It will be a good bet for both countries. Also, in this exchange India will not give Andaman's EEZ to China, which will make the size of andaman and nicobar + territorial waters less than the area from uttrakhand till kailash and dumbi valley.
What thoughts do you guys have?
As is clearly evident, India and China have a really antagonistic relationship with each other, each suspicious about the other. This --- in my opinion --- is an aberration in our centuries old relationship, and is detrimental to both of us. We have no reason to be so antagonistic to each other for a number of reasons which I will detail in this post. Hence I would like in this post for both Indian and Chinese members to engage in a constructive debate and come to a mutually beneficial solution.
Why India and China are NOT natural geopolitical enemies:
1. They are on different continents.
Yes, China and India are almost literally on different continents.
How?
I have always wondered as a kid why Europe is categorized as a continent when it has huge land connections to Asia. It is separated by the ural ranges to Asia, so why shouldn't Himalayas, mountain ranges much more taller and impregnable also constitute a boundary. The answer:
The division of continents is largely a western concept according to their needs and wishes. They categorised westerners, the white guys with similar culture as Europeans, the blacks as Africans, the rest as Asians. Why else do you wonder, Russia is still categorized as European. It is a western construct. The 'new world' further brought about the Americas and Oceania.
Hence, if you talk about connectivity as the defining feature for the classification of continents, Himalayas, due to their magnitude literally divided India and China. There were few exchanges between us, our worlds rarely met and we lived in totally different spheres, dominating each of ours.
The whole history of India (the heart of which rests in northern India) has our interactions primarily with Persians, Arabs, Afghans etc. Similarly, for China it has been Japan, Mongols, Vietnamese etc. So the strategic direction of both of our countries is different. We have almost always faced west, controlled our littoral, and tried playing with the middle east (which brought in Islam), while China has looked East and South-East. You can just look at histories to tell about everything.
2. Lack of irreconcilable differences, and historical baggage
Every country has its own mind, its own consciousness. Indians in general don't have too intense feelings about China. Most of the negative comments about China come due to its support for Pakistan, and most in China come due to support for Tibetans. There are border disputes as well, but nothing like what Pakistan/India or China/Japan/Korea have.
3. Similarity in concerns and spirituality
At a deeper level, we are both quite similar. We both follow Dharmic religions, largely want peace, are facing Islamic terrorism, and want our past glory to be restored.
Challenges faced today: (Differences)
Indian complaints:
1. Relationship with Pakistan
The most important difference and source of friction.
2. Relationship with other countries in Indian vicinity that is used as leverage against India by both China and those countries. Case in hand - SriLanka, String of Pearls
3. Border Problem
4. Territorial Problem with Arunachal and Aksai
5. Support for North-Eastern Rebels
6. Damming of rivers in Tibet, fears regarding that, and general fears regarding Tibet.
China:
1. Active support and existence of Tibet Government-in-Exile in Dharamshala.
2. Claims and Stance on Tibet.
3. Border and Territorial Issues.
4. Threat of disruption of supply routes in Indian Ocean
5. Indian unwillingness for China to enter the region
6. Perceived support for containment of China
I have done a lot of research on this topic which is very dear to my heart. I have read a lot about Sino-Indian relations, the 62 war etc. I perceive it to be a case of misfortunes, misunderstandings and tragedies. I seriously want these two ancient civilizations to come together and make a strategic alliance to deter the west.
What is my proposal?
Broadly it is the division of strategic spheres between major countries in BRIC to make it a formal grouping of developed countries who have been excluded in the formation of international rules.
Firstly, specifically these things are needed to be done:
1. China needs to give up Pakistan completely and totally. That will be painful as it is a big strategic ally, where support for China is across the whole spectrum of country. India in return will have to give up totally and utterly the whole Tibetan thing. Remove Dalai Lama and his government publicly, stop support to Tibet, persecute anyone who have refugee status right now, and explain the general public that they have been lied to, and that Tibet has always been under Chinese influence. Both of the actions are irreversible.
2. China needs to give up Arunachal (Southern Tibet) and India needs to give up Aksai Chin. The rest of the border won't be that much a big deal.
3. BRIC will be strengthened as a grouping with shared interests to create a multi-polar acceptable world with recognized spheres of influence.
So basically, India will have the whole of SAARC, Iran, IOR littoral seas (only upto a certain limit, not whole IOR) and a decent level of Arabia.
China gets, South East Asia ( myanmar, thailand, vietnam), Philippines, Mongolia, Japan and Korea.
Russia gets Kazakhstan, western Europe (Excluding Poland, czech republic, austria and balkans), Black Sea, Arctic, Caspian and their littorals.
Brazil gets South America.
We all can then jointly push against western hegemony, and their interference in our region.
4. Each of the BRIC countries will guarantee the other country free passage for trade in its own sphere of influence.
Additional Note:
I think it would also be preferable to exchange Andaman and Nicobar, for Kailash Mansarovar region and Dumbi Valley, largely because a lot of irredentism toward Tibet comes due to those, which are the biggest Hindu spots. This will be beneficial to both the countries.
For India it will take away the biggest 2 headaches of the proximity of Chinese forces to northern plains especially Delhi, and the vulnerability of the Siliguri corridor. It will also give us access to the Tibetan Plateau.
For China, Andaman will give them valuable way to handle South-east asia, and protect their trade routes. Also, it will help convince Indians by taking the only emotional attachment they have to Tibet, by separating the issue of Kailash from Tibet.
It will be a good bet for both countries. Also, in this exchange India will not give Andaman's EEZ to China, which will make the size of andaman and nicobar + territorial waters less than the area from uttrakhand till kailash and dumbi valley.
What thoughts do you guys have?
