Though the Ukraine conflict is abound to have severe repercussions on India too, along with other countries, the major fall-out seems to be since the beginning of the war, practically our borders are peaceful. Hardly any tension between Indian and China on one side, Indian and Pakistan on another side forces are seen.
Probably, for the first time, these three countries are taking up similar stand in the international forums like United Nations, on the issue of Russia- Ukraine conflict. Three of these countries are indirectly showing sympathies towards Russia.
The EurAsian Times pointed out that whether this conflict united India, China and Pakistan on international matters? It may be recall that both New Delhi and Beijing
have been at loggerheads since the June 2020 border clash between their militaries, in which 20 Indian soldiers and at least 38 PLA troops were killed Galwan valley. Several rounds of negotiations at army level failed to reach any breakthrough on border tension.
The tensions between the two are so high that India announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics after China made a soldier who had fought Indian forces in the Galwan Valley the torchbearer of the Games.
Beijing, on the other hand, is irked by India’s participation in the US-led QUAD, which aims to counter China’s aggressive posture in the Indo-Pacific region. Moreover, China continues to arm India’s traditional adversary, Pakistan, with advanced military hardware.
Common ground at UN
Despite mounting tensions on their borders, the three nations hit a common ground by abstaining from voting on crucial UN resolutions condemning Moscow’s military action against Ukraine.
Going a step further, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 6 openly lambasted the Western nations, which asked Islamabad to join them in denouncing Russia. “What do you think of us? Are we your slaves…that whatever you say, we will do?” Khan said while addressing a political rally,
On February 26, India and China abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution condemning Russia’s assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty and demanding a “complete and unconditional” withdrawal of the Russian military. Both countries have taken a similar stance, citing respect for “territorial integrity and sovereignty” as well as the “United Nations Charter”.
India’s representative to the UN, T S Tirumurti, said: “The contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. All member states need to honor these principles in finding a constructive way forward.”
China’s permanent representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, said the “sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states should be respected and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld… Security of one country cannot come at the cost of undermining the security of other nations…Ukraine should become a bridge between East and West.”
How India, China acts with Russia!
Besides strategic bondage both China and India having with Russia, the questions remains to see that what kind of relationship India and China have with Russia to be willing to take a risk on such a contentious international subject. Both countries have different levels of interactions with Moscow.
Moscow has trade and economic ties with Beijing and is the third biggest gas supplier to the country. Although Russia’s economy is far smaller than China’s, both Moscow and Beijing constantly challenge the Western hegemony and criticize the US-led alliances in their speeches and actions.
Furthermore, their partnership is built upon reciprocal gestures on Ukraine and Taiwan. In a joint statement with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last month, President Putin already declared Taiwan as an inalienable part of China and rejected the island’s independence in any form.
On the otherhand, both India and Russia share defense and security ties. Around 70 percent of India’s military hardware is of Russian origin. India has been rapidly modernizing its military by procuring advanced weapons from both Russia and the US in the face of twin threats from China and Pakistan.
The Indian military has acquired the Russian-made S-400 ‘Triumf’ SAM, considered one of the most potent air defense systems in the world. This is despite the looming threat of US sanctions under CAATSA.
At a time Galway valley clashes led to stalemate in relations between India and China, Russia had taken initiative and succeeded in arrange meetings with Defence and External Affairs ministries of both the countries, in their country, last year.
Very recently, New Delhi and Moscow have signed a mega deal to co-produce AK-203 assault rifles in India. In an interesting development, the Chinese state-run Global Times, which often runs scathing editorials on India, recently applauded New Delhi for standing by Russia and pointing out Western countries’ duplicity.
Has China `Softens’ on border row!
As a result of Ukraine developments, China seems to be practically `soften’ its one on border disputes with India. On March 7, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing said New Delhi should be partners for mutual success not adversaries of mutual attrition.
Admitting China-India ties have suffered some setbacks, Wang said the situation does not serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples He stressed the boundary row shouldn’t disturb bilateral cooperation while urging the two sides to manage differences through dialogue and consultation
“For China and India, both major countries with a population of over a billion, only by staying independent can we firmly grasp our own destiny and realize our goals of development and rejuvenation,” said the Chinese foreign minister.
He urged India to work with China to uphold the strategic censuses of “posing no threat but offering development opportunities to each other.”
While Russia’s collaboration with India and China has many facets, it has also been viewed as a crucial mediator between the two Asian superpowers, who are currently locked in a border impasse.
Perceptions differ
However, there is a difference of perception between India and China on the issue of relations with Russia. For India, Russia is a time-tested friend, come to the rescue of India on several occasions, starting from 1971 and several times used it’s veto power in UN Security Council to rescue India.
Whereas for China, relations with Russia are more strategic than `bond of friendship’. Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China Vijay Gokhale said in an interview to The Indian Express that Beijing was not looking at the current conflict between Russia and the US in military terms, rather it was assessing Western capacity to wage a financial war and how to firewall its own economy if that same weapon was wielded against it.
At the same time, it was also likely to be looking for more acceptability and partnership in a new world order that might begin to emerge over the next few months, he added.
