Chinese president's visit. "Thaw or Cold War"?

[SSridhar]

Though the headline shows the usual predilections of The Hindu, the content is worthwhile.
‘Swing diplomacy’ irks saffron hardliners - Suhasini Haider, The Hindu

If President Xi Jinping’s visit to Gujarat focussed on business and bilateral bonhomie, it was clear that his day in New Delhi and talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday were defined by discussions on the boundary issue and reported incursions in Ladakh’s Chumar sector.

According to one source, the shift came after some members of the Sangh Parivar, both in the BJP and RSS, expressed concern about the ‘over effusive’ welcome to Mr. Xi despite reports of more Chinese troops entering the Chumar sector of Ladakh, the site of a standoff with Indian forces.

“It was particularly disturbing for them to see images of the two leaders sitting on a swing by the Sabarmati riverside, while China is openly challenging us at the border, and we asked that security officials update the PM with the latest situation,” the source said. It was also indicated that the traditional position of the BJP on China was tougher, and it had criticised the UPA government for not tackling border incursions directly.

Government sources confirmed that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval called Mr. Modi on Wednesday evening to give him a full brief on the military faceoff in Chumar as well as the ongoing civilian standoff over a NREGA irrigation project in Demchok with China.

Mr. Modi is reported to have taken Mr. Xi aside directly after their dinner in Ahmedabad and taken up the concerns very strongly. On Thursday morning too, Mr. Modi made special mention of the incursions in talks that extended an hour longer than expected. The Prime Minister first met Mr. Xi with a restricted group of advisers, followed by a one-on-one meeting, and then along with their delegations. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is also understood to have taken a strong line on the border incursions during her talks with the Chinese delegation.

In the press appearance that followed the talks, Mr. Modi’s line was clear, as he said he had “raised India’s serious concern over repeated incidents along the border.” Later Mr. Xi in a public speech said, “I am aware that some in India claim that a stronger China will seek hegemonistic powers. I wish to make it clear that China is firmly committed to peaceful development,” expressing the hope the boundary would be demarcated and the issue resolved “quickly”.

Significantly, through the day, the BJP’s communication cell regularly tweeted the PM’s tougher comments on the Line of Actual Control as well as visas. It finally tweeting on its official handle @bjpsamvad, “Chinese had been halted and pushed back from Chumar in Ladakh by Indian Army”.

[SSridhar]

Xi more open-minded: Dalai Lama - The Hindu

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Thursday hailed Chinese President Xi Jinping as “more open-minded” and “realistic” than his predecessor, Hu Jintao.

Even as he suggested that Mr. Xi take lessons from India’s democratic credentials, the Dalai Lama felt he was more equipped to learn from India than Mr. Hu.

When Mr. Hu visited India, the Dalai Lama said he had told him that he could “learn some experiences” from India.

“My hope is the same. But Xi Jinping is a more open-minded person. So he can learn more things from India,” the Dalai Lama told journalists here.

[SSridhar]

China for solving border row through talks - Atul Aneja, The Hindu

China has called for a negotiated resolution of the border issue with India, shifting the focus on the root cause of the problem, following the latest incidents in Chumar and Demchok, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said during his regular briefing on Thursday that the incidents along the border, to which both China and India attach great importance “has been effectively controlled with immediate effect” and “managed.”

But Mr. Hong added: “China hopes to continue to work with the Indian side to safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border area and solve the border issue through consultation and dialogue.”

The spokesman’s nuanced emphasis on the resolution of the border issue echoed remarks by President Xi Jinping in India that “China has the determination to work with India through friendly consultation to settle the boundary question at an early date.”

In dealing with a complex relationship, with areas of agreement and differences, the Chinese appear to have pitched for a wide-ranging dialogue with India in the hope of building consensus. In response to a question on the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) — an initiative, which many of its critics say has an element of Beijing’s alleged India-containment strategy — the spokesman said China and India should build consensus on this subject, based on dialogue. He pointed out that during President Xi’s visit, “China and India should communicate on the relevant issues and we look forward to forming important consensus with India in this regard.” {In this context, the silence on MSR by Modi in his statement is to be noted}

He stressed that the MSR proposal focussed on achieving “win-win cooperation” that brings real benefits to the two peoples.

Chinese officials say the latest initiatives of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st century MSR will carry forward the earlier spirit of the peaceful exchanges between China and its neighbours along the ancient super-highway, linking Asia with Europe.

[SSridhar]

Dalai Lama: Tibet is India’s problem too - Omar Rashid, The Hindu

In an indirect suggestion that New Delhi should take up the Tibetan cause with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a three-day visit to India, the Dalai Lama on Thursday said the “Tibet problem is also India’s problem.”

Speaking to journalists here, the spiritual leader stressed the role of dialogue and “understanding” in resolving the long-standing issue.

In the context of its border disputes with China, resolving the Tibet issue was also in India’s interest, the Dalai Lama indicated.

“Before 1950, the whole northern border was really peaceful. There was not a single soldier,” he said. “Sooner or later, you have to solve these problems, not by force, but by understanding and talks. Understanding comes through talks.”

On the protests by Tibetans against Mr. Xi, he said: “Tibetans are law-abiding citizens. But the rest is up to the Indian government.”

[chetak]

Modi sent his own 2 messages to Xi. 1) Allowing Tibetan protests at Hyderabad house where Xi-Modi meeting taking place. 2) Dalai Lama speaking about Indo-China relations and telling Xi to learn about diversity from India while Modi-Xi meeting was taking place.

And finally, India has pushed the Chinese back by 2kms and also sent more forces to Damchuk.

So, not everything is one sided. Its a game both can play.

all the things that the congis would never have done

[g.sarkar]

http://www.sify.com/finance/the-chinese ... fiich.html
The Chinese President's big lie
By Rahul jacob
Source : BUSINESS_STANDARD
Xi Jinping
A couple of years ago, a satire of People magazine's annual 'Sexiest Man Alive' issue was splashed by China's leading newspaper, People's Daily. Any country with a free press would have spotted the story for the hoax it was, but not the staff at the Communist mouthpiece. The Onion, the irreverent US publication, had put, of all people, Kim Jong-un, the pudgy North Korean leader at the top of its list.
There was a whiff of such extreme gullibility in the briefings emanating from Chinese diplomats ahead of President Xi Jinping's arrival in India. Except this time around, the Chinese state machinery thinks we can be similarly fooled. Does anyone who can count really believe that the Chinese are going to invest anywhere close to $100 billion over the next five years in special economic zones and building power plants, highways and bridges in India? To put that number in perspective, at the end of 2013, the cumulative total of all inbound FDI into India according to United Nations data was $227 billion, Anil Gupta and Haiyan Wang observe in a blog for the Financial Times. Another sobering number is that the total Chinese investment in India in the past ten years amounts to $400 million. What is on display here is a bit of theatrical one-upmanship directed at the Japanese who said they were willing to invest $35 billion in India.
It would be strategic as well as polite for the Indian government to take the Chinese at their word, however, and entice them to invest every billion we can get out of them, even if the reality is closer to $5 bn. Given the recurrent problems with our state electricity boards that charge well short of what power costs to produce and our many private-public partnerships in highways that have gone bust, perhaps only the Chinese could make money in such businesses. They certainly have the right experience having built roads such as the highway between Colombo and Galle and in Africa. Then again, if the Chinese state-run companies' businesses here fail (as is more likely) they will not be able take the roads with them and we will have scored an important commercial victory over a much savvier rival.......
Gautam

[SSridhar]

10 important takeaways from the PM Modi and Xi Jinping meet in Delhi - ToI

PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting in Delhi was a significant landmark in recent India-China relations with important proposals agreed upon.
1.
12 important agreements signed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping

2.
China to invest $20 billion in India in the next 5 years

3.
Prime Minister Modi raises the issue of clarity regarding line of actual control between India and China for peace and stability

4.
Xi labels the LAC issue historical legacy but says China determined to settle the boundary question at an early date

5.
New route to Kailash Mansarovar via Nathula to provide ease of access to Indian pilgrims

6.
China to set up 2 industrial parks — one in Gujarat and the other in Maharashtra

7.
India expresses concern concerns relating to China's visa policy and transborder rivers

8.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited to China by President Xi Jinping

9.
India and China decide to initiate talks on civil nuclear cooperation

10.
China supports India's full membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization

[SwamyG]

Probably the most challenging diplomacy for Modi-ji and his just now settled in cabinet. Definitely dwarfs the yet to happen Modi-Obama meeting in terms of dexterity and nerve required to handle it.

Sorry to disagree on the importance. Modi-Obama is less of an issue than say Modi meeting Udhav of Shiv Sena. Okay, the point is regional players like Pakistan and China requires more dexterities and offers more challenges than a democratic America which appears more monolithic when compared to the sub-teams in Pakistan and China.

After handling Nawaz and Xi, Obama is a walk in the park. American diplomacy is not a secret, and the World knows American policies, its transgressions, its challenges, its opportunities and problems.

There is nobody out there who can arm twist Modi. Seriously. No country is in a position - multipolar world, economic crisis, Islamic terrorism, water crisis, energy crisis, restless population, health problems that plagues the World - including India.

I don't want to hijack this, thread...but name one thing in the off-topic thread or the Indo-US dhaaga where America can say to India "Do it or else....". Not even China can do that. If America, China and Pakistan cannot do it....it only means the World has changed and Modi is entering a new game.

[SSridhar]

China President Xi's India visit: PM Modi puts boudary dispute, Chinese transgressions at centre of talks - Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, Economic Times

After a day of smiles and sightseeing in Ahmedabad that promised a new approach to India-China relations, realpolitik prevailed on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi put the boundary dispute and transgressions by Chinese troops at the centre stage of the New Delhi-Beijing bilateral. Foreign experts and officials in the ministry of external affairs told ET this was the first time in decades that an Indian PM had taken up the border issue so forcefully at a bilateral that was expected to be more about business and cooperation.

A stern-sounding Modi asked Beijing to respect New Delhi's sensitivities to realise the full potential of the relationship while Chinese President Xi Jinping sought to underplay the frequent border transgressions describing them as "certain incidents" that could be managed by both sides.

Addressing the media jointly after a 90-minute talk, both the leaders listed out a slew of measures ranging from a new emphasis on Bangladesh-Myanmar-India-China (BMIC) corridor to opening a new route through Nathu La pass to the pilgrimage centre of Kailash-Mansarovar in Tibet.

But the crowd at Hyderabad House seemed hardly excited when Modi announced a $20-billion Chinese investment as against the mammoth figure of $100 billion that was being touted earlier.

Adding to India's discomfort, Xi spoke about China's deeper interests in South Asia and Saarc. India and China share a complex relationship not only over the boundary dispute but also over their growing regional ambitions and encirclement strategies in each other's neighbourhood.

Xi's visit was overshadowed by a fresh round of incursions from the Chinese side in Ladakh, but the six-hour bonhomie at display in Ahmedabad had raised hopes that Modi and Xi had developed a sort of personal chemistry.

"While it was expected that Modi would raise transgression issues, it was unusual to see him putting so much emphasis on the boundary question," said China expert Alka Acharya.

Former high commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarathy appeared sceptical of the Chinese optimism. "While on the one hand President Xi made these remarks, on the other, PLA (People's Liberation Army) will intrude into Indian territory.

This never helps to build trust," he said. China's proposal for sub-regional Bangladesh-India-China-Myanmar corridor too has not created great enthusiasm among the mandarins in South Block. Delhi remains sensitive to this initiative as it involves Northeast India, where Beijing has had an interest for decades.

Xi's visit is being closely followed in both Tokyo and Washington — both of whom are keen to develop stronger ties with India to counter China's rise. Interestingly, this visit comes less than a week before Modi's maiden trip to the US, where Beijing's aggressive role in East Asia will be among the talking points.

So, on the whole, some movement but nothing to write home about. The good thing from the Indian perspective was that Modi & Sushma Swaraj put across strong Indian objection to the LAC issues. Will anything come out of that? Hardly. Will Indian companies have market access? No. The relationship will plod along as before with flare-ups every now and then. Will China get more access to India? Yes. The trade imbalance is going to be skewed even further.

[manjgu]

if we can kickstart our economy, build indigenous military capabilities thru private sector participation and dovetail diplomacy, economics, military into a coherent strategy and not be afraid to make unpleasant decision we can truly find our place in the comity of nations.. I trust modiji to deliver on these ( hopefully) ...

[rohitv]

News of MoS Home, Kiren Rijiju not being present at the official banquet is really disappointing. I hope there is a valid explanation.

[RSoami]

No valid explanations. Rijiju has been a vocal opponent of Chinese transgressions and a supporter of strong governance under India. This is dhimminess.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 851317.cms

http://www.firstpost.com/india/india-re ... 09469.html

[Pratyush]

Beijing views Mr Modi as a strong leader who can deliver.

An early outreach to Mr Modi was, therefore, seen as essential in making sure that Delhi does not gravitate rapidly to an emerging anti-China coalition in the larger Indo-Pacific as the US fashions its strategic rebalance to the region.

China wants to prevent a stronger US Asian Pivot

Is it possible?

If the PRC wants to prevent Indian from joining he anti PRC pivot. Then all they have to do is to leave India alone and deal with Tibet in a more equitable manner. IOW, grant them the autonomy the PRC, claims the Tibetans enjoy.

That's all!!!

The border disputes can be solved in due time. But the PRC is doing everything that it can to push India into the Pivot.

Could it be that they wish to take India out of the equation in a short and sharp engagement, similar to 62. Forcing India to lick its wounds for 10 years while they concentrate on the western Pacific Basin.

In this respect, the PRC had for 10 years the best govt they could hope for in India that was headed by MMS.

[SSridhar]

No valid explanations.

No explanations needed. On 17th itself, some reported that Rijiju would not participate in the banquet.

[Kashi]

No explanations needed. On 17th itself, some reported that Rijiju would not participate in the banquet.

Disappointed about this. Thought Modi would be more assertive on this issue than the previous governments. Diplomacy is fine, but having Rijiju at the banquet would have send out a clear message that when we say Arunachal is India and not up for discussion, we mean it.

[Sumeet]

China Overplayed its Hand in Chumur

(Nitin Gokhale is NDTV's Security & Strategic Affairs Editor)

As the first signs of de-escalation appear in Chumur, it is now clear that China overplayed its hand by sending a disproportionate number of troops to intrude into India.

On Wednesday, the Peoples Liberation Army or PLA began sending a battalion-strong (1000 men) force to a location called 30 R in the Chumur sector, even as a flag meeting was on to try and resolve the original issue of transgression earlier this week at a point about two km away.

By intruding four to five km inside Indian territory with such a large force, the PLA perhaps hoped to intimidate the Indian Army. But the local commanders under 14 Corps based at Leh and the Northern Command swiftly deployed almost 1,500 troops to counter the Chinese intrusion, taking the PLA totally by surprise.

The eye ball to eye ball standoff soon made headlines, putting visiting Chinese president Xi Jinping under pressure during his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When PM Modi broached the subject at an informal dinner he was hosting for Mr Xi in Ahmedabad, the Chinese side realised that a local operation had suddenly become a bigger headache than they anticipated.

Preliminary assessment by India's national security managers suggests the PLA commanders did not anticipate India's swift counter build-up and firm stand during the two marathon flag meetings on Monday and Wednesday.

This was a change from previous occasions when the Indian side often appeared unsure of how to deal with intrusions and transgressions, as was evident during the three-week-long Depsang face off in April last year.

When the current crisis began in early September, the Chinese were taken aback by India's strong objection to a road it wanted to build in Chumur.

When the presence of a small force failed to deter local Indian commanders, China tried intimidation by sending a battalion-strong force.

But even that didn't work forcing President Xi Jinping to admit obliquely that incidents on the border happen because it is undemarcated; the trick he said was in preventing such incidents from having a large impact.

Unfortunately for him, a tactical blunder on the PLA's part at Chumur - with his full knowledge - has turned out to be a decision with large strategic implications, especially since the President was on a high-stakes visit to India.

[Sumeet]

India Takes Tough Stance With China On Border - NYT

Smiles rarely left the faces of the top leaders of India and China here Thursday, but India's new prime minister sent a tough message to his Chinese guest by pressing him for a resolution to a border dispute that has escalated abruptly. (Read)

A large contingent of Indian troops, which one official said numbered in the thousands, was mobilized Thursday to face an equivalent number of Chinese troops in Ladakh, Kashmir, a largely high-altitude, barren Himalayan landscape where jingoism and military conflict have dominated for decades. (Ladakh Standoff Turns a Loudspeaker War on Day 2 of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Visit)

Only India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, could have ordered such a mobilization, said Mohan Guruswamy, a military analyst with the Observer Research Foundation.

The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, is in the middle of a three-day Indian visit that has been billed as the beginning of a great economic and political partnership. Several deals, including for high-speed trains and economic zones, had been promised at a total price tag that officials hinted could reach as much as $100 billion - nearly three times what Japan, China's foremost Asian rival, recently promised to India.

But Modi made clear to the Chinese that India's patience with an uncertain border situation had worn thin and that any crop of deals must await a territorial resolution, analysts said.

"The prime minister sent a very strong signal that the Chinese have to agree to a fixed line of actual control before we start doing serious business with them," Guruswamy said.

Instead of $100 billion in deals, the sides agreed to a target of infrastructure and industrial development valued at $20 billion to $50 billion. In a news media briefing, Modi made some of the most pointed remarks about the border uncertainty that any Indian leader has uttered in decades.

"I raised our serious concern over repeated incidents along the border," Modi said.

"While our border-related agreements and confidence-building measures have worked well, I also suggested that clarification of the Line of Actual Control would greatly contribute to our efforts to maintain peace and tranquility and requested President Xi to resume the stalled process of clarifying the LAC," he added, referring to the countries' shared border.

India has been pressing China for years to delineate a boundary, hundreds of miles of which are in dispute. Both sides have built up their military presence in the region in recent years.

"We've always been the ones pressing for a defined and well-controlled line of control, but the Chinese have always been very evasive about it and have refused to give us a map," said K. Shankar Bajpai, a former Indian ambassador to China.

Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which heads India's government, long complained that the previous government under Manmohan Singh was too timid with Pakistan and China on territorial disputes and incursions. Last year, when a Chinese platoon camped out for weeks in Ladakh, Singh sought mostly to defuse the crisis. Indian officials had said then that China had created the standoff.

But Indian analysts seemed happy to concede that their side was largely to blame for this escalation. "The Indians have normally been very placatory," Guruswamy said. "But this time, it's India's show of force."


Indian military and paramilitary officials declined to provide official comment. A call to the press line of the Chinese Foreign Ministry was not answered.

Bajpai, the former ambassador, said Modi was clearly sending a message to China.

"And his message is that it's all very nice to talk about business," Bajpai said, "but this territorial stuff is not an area where you can play ducks and drakes with us as you have in the past."

[Sumeet]

On a lighter note:

DD anchor calls Chinese president 'Eleven' Jinping, sacked

NEW DELHI: A Doordarshan news anchor has been sacked after she referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as 'Eleven' Jinping, apparently confusing Xi's name with the Roman numerals XI, a senior official at the state television channel said on Friday, .

Xi left India on Friday after a visit to boost trade and economic ties that have been marred by a long-standing border dispute.

The blooper occurred on a show on Doordarshan news on Wednesday.

"It is an unpardonable mistake," the official told Reuters on the condition of anonymity, saying the anchor was employed on a casual basis. "We have debarred her from news reading for a few months."

The official said a shortage of news readers had forced the channel to run some news bulletins with casuals.

The incident comes at a time when Doordarshan news is trying to reinvent itself to compete with private broadcasters. Its programmes are often a matter of public ridicule for their poor production quality.

The gaffe led to a wave of sarcastic comments on social media.

"The silver lining: at least the anchor knows Roman numerals," kanikagahlaut posted on Twitter.

[Austin]

Dont the chinese have a second english name too ? Its better to refer them with their english sounding names ....else its all confusion onleee

[deejay]

Xi =11. All this time it stared in my face but I couldn't see it. It takes the genius of the DD anchor to show it to me. My brain freeze defrosted. But why remove her? We all have our unique perspectives and world views.

[chetak]

No valid explanations.

No explanations needed. On 17th itself, some reported that Rijiju would not participate in the banquet.

I think that it was a small graduated response by NaMo which would have duly been noted by the chini

[A_Gupta]

Xi =11. All this time it stared in my face but I couldn't see it. It takes the genius of the DD anchor to show it to me. My brain freeze defrosted. But why remove her? We all have our unique perspectives and world views.

+1

[kapilrdave]

Eleven Jinping

Make it an international story to humiliate him. Keep the issue boiling for a full week like asking the journalist for written apology, then ask for resignation, then pardon her etc...

I wish in the one-on-one meeting the 56inch gave 'eleven' the new-klear warning. I want the world to see NM as a mad bad guy who mean the business but will jump into the war at first opportunity. IMO that attitude itself will deter the war.

[johneeG]

Xi =11. All this time it stared in my face but I couldn't see it. It takes the genius of the DD anchor to show it to me. My brain freeze defrosted. But why remove her? We all have our unique perspectives and world views.

+1

+11

[saip]

Dont the chinese have a second english name too ? Its better to refer them with their english sounding names ....else its all confusion onleee

During my Chinese tour all guides gave us their what they called American names. I believe they are required to choose a name during training (English and Guide training)

[SSridhar]

From NightWatch for the night of Sep 18, 2014

India-China: Summit developments. Indian Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi signed 12 Memoranda of Understanding during the summit. They included developing a new pilgrim route to Tibetan shrines via Sikkim and major Chinese investments in Indian Railways. China will invest $20 billion in India over the next five years.

Chinese President Xi said China will setup industrial parks in western India. He said the two leaders talked about the development of railways to increase the speed of the trains on key routes.

Xi said, "PM Modi and I agree that both India and China share common development goals and philosophies."

Security Developments. A flag meeting between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army of China was held today to discuss the ongoing Chinese intrusions into Indian claimed territory in northwestern India. The meeting made no progress towards a resolution.

Comment: Indian press services reported that the Chinese positioned nomads at the front of their soldiers in making incursions, instead of just using soldiers, as they did earlier this year. No clashes occurred, but neither side is backing down.

Chinese President Xi's visit makes the point that China judges that border disputes can be handled independently from cooperative and productive economic and political ties. Xi emphasized the importance of larger issues in talking about the influence China and India have on world affairs when they work together.

Xi's message seems aimed at Southeast Asian states, many of whom look to India for regional leadership and as a counter-weight to China.

[SSridhar]

Eleven Jinping is the best thing that happened in this visit.

[Prem]

Eleven Jinping is the best thing that happened in this visit.

Its called Nau Do Gyarah i.e suddenly vanished without trace, like thief disappear when police arrive or Paki Khaki disappear when IA arrives.

[SSridhar]

Hours after 'withdrawal' Chinese soldiers are back -ToI

Hours after withdrawing from the Chumar region in Ladakh, Chinese PLA soldiers were on Friday reported to have crossed into Indian territory again and stationed themselves on a hillock.

Official sources said about 35 PLA men returned to Chumar in northeast Ladakh and were perched on a hillock claiming the area to be part of China while another 300 soldiers were maintaining presence close to line of actual control (LAC).

The Indian Army, which had starting scaling down operations from the area following the Chinese withdrawal last night, put a halt and again started pitching their tents for a possible fresh stand-off, the sources said.

[member_28722]

Dont the chinese have a second english name too ? Its better to refer them with their english sounding names ....else its all confusion onleee

During my Chinese tour all guides gave us their what they called American names. I believe they are required to choose a name during training (English and Guide training)

Most of the Chinese origins guys I have met here doing mid-level jobs have names like Jack, Tom, Sunny etc ...
Other Asian countries' origin folks mention their actual names
Is this a Chinese mindset?

[SanjayC]

No explanations needed. On 17th itself, some reported that Rijiju would not participate in the banquet.

Disappointed about this. Thought Modi would be more assertive on this issue than the previous governments. Diplomacy is fine, but having Rijiju at the banquet would have send out a clear message that when we say Arunachal is India and not up for discussion, we mean it.

Read somewhere that only Cabinet Ministers were present at the meet.

[anupmisra]

Now this is interesting. I did not know this but Xi Jinping's wife is a honorary major general in the PLA.

there was a time when Peng Liyuan, China’s first lady—and a honorary major general in the People’s Liberation Army—was the better-known spouse

A folk singer, who for decades starred on state-run television shows with mostly propagandist renditions, Xi’s second wife had turned into a national celebrity far before the president himself rose to prominence.

That is why Peng’s talents were sought to be utilized to project Chinese “soft power” almost as soon as it became clear that her husband would become the president of the world’s second largest economy and the commander of the largest armed forces on the planet.

“The image of the Communist Party used to be very dull and the leaders behaved like robots as a part of the state machine with no personal charm at all”

This was before Manmohan Singh. The Indian press of course could not hold themselves back with comments like:

Already, the Indian press is fawning. The Times of India has called her an “encroacher of hearts,” who on Wednesday was “smiling through the ambush of cameras and security” in Ahmedabad.

[Vayutuvan]

Most of the Chinese origins guys I have met here doing mid-level jobs have names like Jack, Tom, Sunny etc ...
Other Asian countries' origin folks mention their actual names
Is this a Chinese mindset?

They don't want to be taken as communists. Almost all of them immediately join a church as soon as they land and have an anglic nickname and nuke it their first name for general day to day secular use.

[SSridhar]

Heat on border takes away from Modi-Xi warmth - Indrani Bagchi, ToI

A $20 billion promise of investment and a 150-dish lavish dinner notwithstanding, neither China nor India emerged from the Modi-Xi meeting feeling warm and fuzzy, revealing the gaps in their relationship.

Narendra Modi genuinely wanted to reset relations with India's northern neighbour. Looking at the world through the prism of business relations, the India-China relationship held a lot of promise. Industrial parks, investment in railways etc all have the potential of being game-changers in the bilateral space.

But the Chinese incursion in Chumar came as a huge jolt to the PM personally. It was just before the dinner with Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad that Modi was informed of the incursion by Chinese troops. Chinese troops continue to be on Indian territory in Chumar even after Modi's interventions with Xi. He drew Xi apart and for the next 12 minutes let him have it.

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj was instructed to stay on the message when she met Xi the next morning. Sushma faithfully carried India's message. During the restricted session between the two leaders, PM became sharper in his intervention. After a while, officials were asked to leave and the two leaders had yet another one-on-one session, where PM for the fourth time told Xi to pull his troops back.

Just as it was during the Depsang incursion in 2013, the cause for the Chumar incursions this year too is unclear, leaving only theories behind. At least in 2013, the Manmohan Singh government could successfully hold out the threat of cancelling the visit of Premier Li Keqiang. This time, the incursion coincided with Xi landing in India. India's helplessness was in full display, which left Modi very unsettled.

Behind the placid exterior, Xi Jinping is one of the most powerful leaders China has had in recent times. Beyond the public charm, Xi gave out a couple of clear messages - India is not in the same league as China and economic ties apart, they will continue to play aggressive on the border.

On China's part, the repeated protests by the Tibetans during the two days, and the Indian media's less than flattering commentary of the Chinese did not go down well at all. Many in the Chinese delegation believed the Indian authorities could have been more proactive to keep the Tibetans back. Of course, the Chinese media had a totally different take on the visit. They focused totally on the economic deliverables but if you were only reading the Chinese media, you would not think that the Chumar incursion was happening at all. That actually illustrated more clearly than anything the fact that despite being neighbours, India and China still occupy two different planets.

[SSridhar]

A little toothache can paralyse entire body, Modi tells XI Jinping - ToI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi bluntly told visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping that Beijing's intransigence on the border might impact bilateral ties.

"Yeh chhoti chhoti ghatnayen bade se bade sambandhon ko prabhavit kar deti hain. Agar daant ka dard ho to saara sharir kaam nahin karta hai. (Even such small incidents can impact the biggest of relationships just as a little toothache can paralyze the entire body)," Modi cautioned the Chinese leader on Thursday. The warning came after the Chinese did not pull back troops in Chumar sector of eastern Ladakh even 24 hours after Xi saying that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had been asked to withdraw.

Sources said Xi had told Modi on Wednesday in Ahmedabad that the PLA troops who had advanced in the Chumar sector, triggering the standoff, had been asked to retreat to their original position. Xi made the claim after Modi took up the incursion issue with him.

Other members of the Chinese delegation also told their Indian counterparts on Thursday in New Delhi that the Chinese soldiers had been asked to go back, even as they pleaded ignorance about the provocation.

Of course, the Indian side, knowing that the PLA does not enjoy the autonomy that the Chinese visitors sought to bestow upon it in this instance, treated the alibi as a feint and was not taken in by it.

As the military face-off continued on Friday, it was clear that the visit of the Chinese president, which held the promise of improving ties, may have in fact aggravated the trust deficit because of the Ladakh incursions which, the government here is pretty sure, were timed to coincide with the engagement.

Even as hectic politico-diplomatic interventions are underway to defuse tensions after the Modi-Xi summit, defence sources said there was "no change in the ground situation" till Friday evening at Chumar, where around 1,000 soldiers from each side are holding five to six "tactical positions" spread along a 2.5-km front in sub-zero temperatures at an altitude of around 14,500feet.

"The PLA troops have weaker tactical positions which are difficult to sustain in the sector. They may withdraw after posturing for another day or two to save face. If they do, we will also thin out our troops in the sector to restore status quo ante. Till then, our soldiers will stand firm," said a source.

The stand-off had kicked off on September 10 after Indian soldiers had prevented PLA troops equipped with cranes, bulldozers and other equipment from building a road right up to Chepzi on the LAC in the Chumar sector.

Though the "present separation distance" between the rival troops ranges from just 200 to 800 metres at different points, there is "no threat" of matters spinning out of control along the unresolved 4,057-km Line of Actual Control (LAC), where not a single shot has been fired for decades despite regular incursions and faceoffs. Incidentally, a PLA lieutenant had inadvertently strayed into Indian positions during the ongoing Chumar faceoff. "He was detained and later handed over to the PLA," said a source.

But with three flag meetings between local military commanders failing to resolve the Chumar deadlock, both India and China had pumped in more soldiers into the sector a couple of days ago. The two sides have also used helicopters to airdrop food and supplies for their soldiers as well as for undertaking reconnaissance of the disputed area.

Similarly, there is no end to the stalemate in the "civilian confrontation" at Demchok, which took place after China moved some of its graziers to the Ninglung Nullah — where they have pitched their tents — to prevent Indian workers from building a water irrigation channel under the NREGA scheme there last week.

The PLA decision to rush more soldiers to the standoff site in Chumar, just before the Modi-Xi summit on Thursday morning, took the defence establishment here by surprise about the "strategic intent and message" behind the move.

Tactically, the Indian positions at Chumar are better-placed on higher ground that "overlooks" the Chinese positions. Moreover, the Indian Army has 15 battalions (800 soldiers each) deployed across eastern Ladakh, including five Ladakh Scouts units as well as four units each under the 70 Kiari and 114 Tangtse brigades, all "acclimatised" for the high-altitude region.

"There are other reserve battalions under the 14 Corps headquartered at Leh. The PLA, however, cannot swiftly build up its troop strength in Chumar beyond a point, unlike many other stretches in eastern Ladakh," said a source.

Much like the 21-day Depsang faceoff in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector in April-May last year just before Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India, this time too there seemed to be a disconnect - a contrived one, most believe — between the political bonhomie at the top and PLA actions on the ground.

It had taken intensive diplomatic intervention to finally defuse the DBO faceoff after India dismantled "a tin shed" at Chumar and the PLA troops simultaneously withdrew from the Depsang Valley. Similarly, this time the Chinese troops are asking for Indian troops to demolish a recently-built hut at Tible near the LAC in the Chumar sector.

The ongoing Chumar faceoff once again junks the stipulation that "local or tactical border issues should be settled locally between local commanders on the ground" instead of letting them escalate to the political level, which was the cornerstone of the new border defence cooperation agreement (BDCA) inked between India and China in October last year.

Through the BDCA, India had pushed for "greater predictability and stability" in tackling border flare-ups. But PLA troops have already violated the BDCA provision that prohibits either side from tailing each other's patrol in areas where there is "no common understanding" and dispute over where the LAC actually lies. PLA troops, for instance, tailed Indian soldiers on at least two occasions in eastern Ladakh in June, which led India to lodge a formal protest with China.{The BDCA or any other agreement with the Chinese would be a waste. China never sticks to any agreement. Its agreements are meant to lull the other side into complacency or to hold their feet to the ire . For its own violations, it would always give a lame excuse and justify it}

[svinayak]

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj was instructed to stay on the message when she met Xi the next morning. Sushma faithfully carried India's message. During the restricted session between the two leaders, PM became sharper in his intervention. After a while, officials were asked to leave and the two leaders had yet another one-on-one session, where PM for the fourth time told Xi to pull his troops back.

Just as it was during the Depsang incursion in 2013, the cause for the Chumar incursions this year too is unclear, leaving only theories behind. At least in 2013, the Manmohan Singh government could successfully hold out the threat of cancelling the visit of Premier Li Keqiang. This time, the incursion coincided with Xi landing in India. India's helplessness was in full display, which left Modi very unsettled.

Uncle supporting Chinese have triggered this. They dont want a long term business relationship between India and China since China can have a monopoly in the US market without India.
The lobby group which is active working for Chinese interest have a clear objective of China keeping the status quo in China-US relations. Kee[ping India down has been the policy for the last 30 years

[Philip]

This is a message that will also be heard loud and clear amongst the other smaller nations of ASEAN and Asia,who are being intimidated and bullied by the Chinese "siyi" (barbarians),that India can and will stand up to the dragon and say it upfront to the beast.

[Suraj]

I'd be very interested in being a fly on the wall in Zhongnanhai as they debate how to reorient the India policy. The Chinese have no prior experience dealing with an Indian leader acting like this. Their prior experience is that of dealing with a sequence of wimps at the high political level on our side, who are reactive and emotional. This time around they're facing someone who does not fit that template.

They come across as the emotional ones - promising high heavens and speaking droll silliness like "China and India are two bodies and one spirit", only to get a response "that's nice, but did you ask your troops to withdraw or not ?", and repeat the question multiple times. I'm not terribly bothered by Rijiju's absence. It would have made for nice atmospherics, but looking at it coldly, it's just that - atmospherics.

I think refusing to smile and let be, and repeatedly emphasizing our resolve to push them back, has ultimately greater results on the ground. Rijiju is already a very high profile and effective MoS. His absence does not materially affect anything. On the other hand, not resolutely telling them we will push them back, has greater negative potential.

Overall, the trip went well. $30 billion or so in deals, Modi comes across not as some loose cannon hardliner, but someone unwilling to budge on security, no fawning treatment of the Chinese despot, effective freedom to the Tibetan refugees to make their voice heard, Xi himself came across as being somewhat undermined by his own military, unable to control their actions with a nod of his finger, and generally a positive visit from our perspective.

The Chinese will definitely probe further. They'll test if our current resolve lasts. A small skirmish may occur, and Modi may authorize a quick response to it to ensure they get the message to back off further. This new Indian stance will be an interesting challenge for them.

[girish.r]

Most of the Chinese origins guys I have met here doing mid-level jobs have names like Jack, Tom, Sunny etc ...
Other Asian countries' origin folks mention their actual names
Is this a Chinese mindset?

They don't want to be taken as communists. Almost all of them immediately join a church as soon as they land and have an anglic nickname and nuke it their first name for general day to day secular use.

Ditto in EU. Here in brussels they join 'Integration' courses for Dutch & French on arrival and usually call themselves as Belgian chinese upon completion of level 3 language certificate courses.

[ashish raval]

China has many weaknesses internally. It was not one nation in the history and people from five main regions did fought quite a lot. India should it choose to support Uighurs and tibet can inflict considerable harm to Chinese in the process. But more than that there are internal struggles going on in China for power which will eventually lead to civil war like situation. More and more people will look out for democratic aspirations and eventually China will go Russian way.

I read in an Chinease strategy document;
Chinas economic power is growing and with it political power. Chinese strategists think it is only a matter of time, before it becomes the most powerful nation on earth. India is the only potential party spoiler, but chinease belief their people are of somewhat superior ability.

So Chinease strategy is to keep the disputes alive, but in a sutle mode, so that it does not harm the economic development. It will settle the disputes once they become more powerful.

Another strategy is to maintain a conflict, so that people become more nationalistic. This can be helpful for Communist party, if the economy slows down, as they can simply escalate the problems and turn focus away from the economy. As we all know, China is heading for a very very hard economic landing.

Agree on these points. It is time for bare knuckle on the border and perhaps do our own incursions just to payback in the same coin to see who fires first. Right now Chinese are testing waters and patience of Indians on border.
It is not hard to buy Chinese ak-56 and sneak them into Tibet and start armed struggle. Uncle Sam will be willing ally if India is happy to do some dirty work and bhramastra will be setting up American listening post and that will keep these Chinese mouse inside their cages. India should do everything to restrict chinese access to Indian ocean and warn Maldives and srilanka that guys you have to live with 1.25 billion people who share same culture and its only matter of ten or fifteen years when India will be as big market as today's China. So if you guys want long term security and access to indian market you need to fall in line with India and not effing lick balls of a nation thousand miles away.