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India, China work on resuming defence exchanges
Keen on the resumption of high-level military exchanges, India and China are discussing a proposal to have an Indian military delegation at the Divisional Commander level visit China.
New Delhi has, however, made it clear that the leader of the delegation will be an officer from the Northern Command. Last July, India had decided to suspend high-level military exchanges after Beijing told New Delhi that the Northern Army Commander, who was leading a delegation of senior military officials to China, would require a stapled visa. The reasoning given was that he was in-charge of an area, Jammu & Kashmir, for whose residents Beijing does not issue regular visas but staples them on the passport.
While some breakthrough could come during Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs visit to China starting Tuesday, officials are downplaying expectations, aware that Beijing will be more focused on the multilateral event at the resort town of Sanya the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit.
Its learnt that Singh is slated to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday. They will discuss the entire range of bilateral issues, particularly the proposed bilateral strategic economic dialogue that will be led, on New Delhis side, by Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
On high-level defence exchanges, sources said, both sides have tried to be creative in finding a solution. If the Chinese were to agree to the proposal, they would have to issue a stamped visa to the Major General-level officer from Northern Command. At the same time, India is not insisting that only the Northern Army commander head the delegation. Its hoped, officials said, that China may see reason in the fact that a Divisional Commander is not in charge of the entire J&K.
The hope here is that if this works out, then both countries can inch closer to resolving the stapled visa issue. While China has not issued stapled visas in the last few months to J&K residents, sources said, the question in New Delhi is when will China start issuing stamped visas on a regular basis.
There have been some instances of proper visas being given to J&K residents like when a singer from Jammu had to perform at the closing ceremony of the Asian Games at Guangzhou. Or even the four media persons from J&K traveling with the Prime Minister to cover the BRICS summit. But sources cautioned against reading too much into this arguing that Beijing may have issued proper visas this time since it would not want this row to cloud its showcase BRICS summit.
Since India suspended military exchanges, there have been a string of messages from different levels in China that such a situation was not desirable, including from Gen Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of General Staff in the Chinese PLA. India was clear that this was linked to the stapled visa issue and that this had to resolved.
The matter also came up for discussion during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabaos visit to India last December and he assured the Indian side that China would find a way out on the stapled visa issue. Of late, Chinese officials too have been positive on resolving this issue and resuming high-level military contact, which has prompted some optimism in New Delhi. But, as of now, sources said, it is still not a done deal.
India, China work on resuming defence exchanges
Keen on the resumption of high-level military exchanges, India and China are discussing a proposal to have an Indian military delegation at the Divisional Commander level visit China.
New Delhi has, however, made it clear that the leader of the delegation will be an officer from the Northern Command. Last July, India had decided to suspend high-level military exchanges after Beijing told New Delhi that the Northern Army Commander, who was leading a delegation of senior military officials to China, would require a stapled visa. The reasoning given was that he was in-charge of an area, Jammu & Kashmir, for whose residents Beijing does not issue regular visas but staples them on the passport.
While some breakthrough could come during Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs visit to China starting Tuesday, officials are downplaying expectations, aware that Beijing will be more focused on the multilateral event at the resort town of Sanya the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit.
Its learnt that Singh is slated to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday. They will discuss the entire range of bilateral issues, particularly the proposed bilateral strategic economic dialogue that will be led, on New Delhis side, by Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
On high-level defence exchanges, sources said, both sides have tried to be creative in finding a solution. If the Chinese were to agree to the proposal, they would have to issue a stamped visa to the Major General-level officer from Northern Command. At the same time, India is not insisting that only the Northern Army commander head the delegation. Its hoped, officials said, that China may see reason in the fact that a Divisional Commander is not in charge of the entire J&K.
The hope here is that if this works out, then both countries can inch closer to resolving the stapled visa issue. While China has not issued stapled visas in the last few months to J&K residents, sources said, the question in New Delhi is when will China start issuing stamped visas on a regular basis.
There have been some instances of proper visas being given to J&K residents like when a singer from Jammu had to perform at the closing ceremony of the Asian Games at Guangzhou. Or even the four media persons from J&K traveling with the Prime Minister to cover the BRICS summit. But sources cautioned against reading too much into this arguing that Beijing may have issued proper visas this time since it would not want this row to cloud its showcase BRICS summit.
Since India suspended military exchanges, there have been a string of messages from different levels in China that such a situation was not desirable, including from Gen Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of General Staff in the Chinese PLA. India was clear that this was linked to the stapled visa issue and that this had to resolved.
The matter also came up for discussion during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabaos visit to India last December and he assured the Indian side that China would find a way out on the stapled visa issue. Of late, Chinese officials too have been positive on resolving this issue and resuming high-level military contact, which has prompted some optimism in New Delhi. But, as of now, sources said, it is still not a done deal.
India, China work on resuming defence exchanges
