INDIA-CHINA : VIVE LA DIFFERENCE!
Relations with China have always been at the forefront of our foreign policy. No need to emphasise that they have had highs and lows. But in the overall course they have fluctuated between friendship (rather exaggerated) and hostility (not less exaggerated). In recent times they have had an eerie inexplicable zig-zag path – inscrutable, yet very scrutable. There will always be differences but we can and should say as in French, “Vive la difference!” (long live the difference !). And why ? Because the difference is fundamental, and never can be bridged. It is the most realistic and most painless position.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, (a friend and person of integrity) held up a recent speech of the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, as worthy of our notice. The Prime Minister could not have expected us to learn lessons from the Chinese in the conduct of our drive towards a new progressive, dynamic, society and world power. The Chinese claim to be socialist but what kind of socialist one cannot fathom – but this much is certain: they have renounced the excesses of Mao Tse-tong, overturning the Communist concepts of his, and opted for an “Open and Inclusive Nation” based on accepting reforms in economic development to the extent of inviting foreign capital and technologies and innovating them for Chinese use, and at the same time being inclusive which calls for respect for different cultures. The question of democracy as we know it, including dissent does not arise in this context, unless it has a Chinese meaning which is beyond our understanding.
The fundamental difference between India and China is most striking. China has renounced its past heritage and culture. It takes no pride in its ancient wisdom in its contemporary pragmatism. But, on the contrary, India cherishes its tradition, culture and heritage going back into thousands of years. Even in its drive towards modernity and contemporary participation in world affairs at their highest level, it has a lively sense of its throbbing history, its freedom, democracy and constructive, even at times destructive, dissent. India has its own special spectacularity.
India and China? Vive la difference!