Beijing wants stronger ties with New Delhi, war last option: Chinese expert

Yuan Peng was talking to journalists on China's foreign policy in the next five years

A full-blown conflict is the last thing China wants with India, a Chinese expert said on Wednesday, adding Beijing wants to see ties with India reach a "strategic high" akin to Sino-Russian relations.

However, the strategist with China's leading think tank warned that Beijing would strongly defend its territory if the need arose.

Yuan Peng also said that issues like the Doklam row between the militaries of India and China would be dealt "squarely" by Beijing.

Yuan, Vice President at the China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations, said Beijing won't compromise on issues safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests.

"The last thing we want to see is a full-blown conflict. Both sides should learn the lesson that we don't need to fight and that we should take Sino-Indian relations on a strategic high, like the China-Russia relationship.

"These issues should be handled in a proper way rather than letting them hijack bilateral relationship. We need more comprehensive mechanisms and dialogue," he added.

"This relationship is as important as other major country relations such as China and Russia. It is not something that China and India want to see. Both are rapidly emerging countries and partners within BRICS. We want to see the rise of the two countries like brothers."

Yuan was talking to journalists on China's foreign policy in the next five years.

"When safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests, we will always be assertive and strong because there is no room for compromise on these issues," said Yuan.

Asked if he meant that China will deal strongly on issues like Dokalm, he said: "It will depend really on what kind of crisis it is. It will depend on the situation.

"In the past, we thought we would shelve differences. Now, we will face them squarely.

"Because even if we agree to shelve differences, the other party might not agree to do so. So we now face these problems head-on, and safeguard our legitimate interests. But we will do this in an incremental way."

India and China were locked in a two-month military stand-off at Doklam in the Sikkim section of their border. The crises ended in August, with both sides retreating from the point of the face-off.

"Indeed, as far as protecting our interests on sovereignty and ensuring a stable and peaceful periphery are concerned, it is not so easy to strike a balance. No country will seek a peaceful external environment at the cost of its own interests.

"President Xi talked about peaceful development and also that we will never allow actions that hurt China's interests," Yuan added.

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