‘China-India Military Relations Have Improved’, Says Chinese Media

The article was published in the context of the armed forces’ standoff last year near the Sikkim border.

File photo of PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

(Photo: PTI)

In an article published on Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) sponsored newspaper on 15 October, it was stated that despite border disputes between India and China, military ties between the two countries have 'improved markedly' this year.

The article named China-India Military Relations Improve Markedly, was published in the context of the armed forces’ standoff last year near the Sikkim border.

Written by War Studies College of the Chinese PLA Academy of Military Sciences, and the Joint Service Academy of the Chinese PLA National Defense University, the PLA report also mentioned that the two sides should promote establishments for regular border meeting between senior army officials, strengthen exchanges between the front-line units and carry out training for border guards in the other's colleges and universities in order to 'resolutely' put an end to border disputes such as Dokhlam (referred as Donglang in the article) episode.

Confidence Building Measures Between India & China

The PLA article also acknowledged the recent developments between the two countries that have been taken to ensure confidence building such as the informal meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan in April and during Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2018.

Stating the recent achievements between the leaders of the two countries, the article read:

“The leaders of the two countries have conducted strategic exchanges on the major changes in the world today, and have exchanged in-depth views on the overall, long-term and strategic issues concerning the future development of China-India relations, which have played a strategic leading role in the development of relations between the two countries and their militaries.”

However fearing that the two countries will 'inevitably encounter some waves' in future, the article highlighted that continuous pragmatic cooperation in various fields from both sides will deepen friendship and enhance strategic mutual trust, therefore ensuring a harmonious relationship.

‘Militaries Can Promote the Win-Win Cooperation’

“History shows that as long as China and India adhere to the principle of treating each other with sincerity, mutual respect and taking care of each other's concerns, strive to develop their cooperative willingness into a policy level, extend the consensus of both sides to an action level, and pass the upper-level decision to the front-line forces, as well as properly control their differences,” it said.

Emphasising the importance of military drills such as the "Hand in Hand" joint anti-terrorism training , it further added:

“The two militaries can promote the win-win cooperation, making their military relations serving as a positive factor for their stable bilateral ties.”