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China visits India air show
BANGALORE: India welcomed a senior Chinese delegation from Beijing for the first time at its air show on Wednesday even as the countrys defence minister warned of a military build up on their border.
Air Vice Marshal Zheng Yuanlin headed a five-person Chinese group at the Aero India show in Bangalore after New Delhi extended its first invitation to China in January.
The move came after a decision last September to resume joint military exercises following the first visit of a Chinese defence minister to New Delhi in eight years.
It is a welcome step, even though we have long pending border issues, Defence Minister A.K. Antony told reporters. We are trying to improve relations in all areas.
The last Aero India in 2011 saw New Delhi snub China again along with arch-rival Pakistan amid a spike in tensions, but the Chinese ambassador in New Delhi was allowed to attend in a negotiated compromise.
Military cooperation was called off in 2010 after a row when China refused a visa to an Indian commander stationed in the disputed region of Kashmir.
The two sides have held more than a dozen rounds of inconclusive talks to resolve their border disputes, which led to a brief but bitter war in 1962.
Much of Indias huge military modernisation it is the worlds biggest arms importer, according to monitors and its expanding long-range missile programme is seen as partly in response to Chinas rise.
The Indian military has traditionally seen neighbour Pakistan as its biggest foe after three wars since independence in 1947.
But as Indias economic interests spread geographically, Indian leaders see the need to be able to project force further afield while also defending against any future threat from Pakistan or China.
Even as suspicions remain, China visits India air show | World | DAWN.COM
