Cordial India China relationship in US interest: scholar

A cordial and peaceful relationship between India and China is in the interest of the United States, a noted American scholar has said.
"The relatively cordial visit between India and China is welcome. It is in the US interest that the two nuclear powers maintain peaceful borders and avoid any potential clashes that could escalate tensions," Olivia Enos of the Heritage Foundation said.
"India will do what it can in this regard directly with China.
"The US can help by continuing developing its relationship with India and helping it balance China's burgeoning power," she said.
Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow at the Foundation said that Sino-Indian tension, particularly over unresolved border issues and naval competition in the Indian Ocean, will persist in the years ahead and could even precipitate armed conflict, although this remains a relatively remote possibility.

"The US must seek to build closer strategic and defence ties with India, both to help maintain a peaceful equilibrium in the region and to help deter any potential aggressive action by China," she said.

Enos said the recent visit by Singh to China demonstrated an ongoing willingness on both sides to cooperate on issues of mutual interest and try to better manage the differences over their shared border.
This is an important dynamic to consider as the US continues to develop its own growing relationship with India, she said.
"The signing of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) was the most significant thing they accomplished.

India claims that China occupies more than 14,000 square miles of Indian territory in Aksai Chin (in Jammu & Kashmir) along its northern border, while China lays claim to more than 34,000 square miles in the eastern sector of India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The two sides also agreed that if the Chinese and Indian militaries came in close proximity of one another near the disputed areas, they would operate with restraint, the BDCA maintained.
"Nonetheless, there is still concern over China's sincerity in assenting to the agreement. Just before Singh's visit, the Chinese issued invalid visas to two women from Arunachal Pradesh making it impossible for them to board the plane to China and incapable of competing at a world sporting event.

Chinese actions prior to Singh's visit made India reluctant to move forward with a visa liberalisation agreement during the visit," Enos observed.