Good relations

DW: When the BJP was in power India over 10 years ago, how would you judge the Indian-Chinese relationship during that time?

Swaran Singh: China-India relations under the last BJP regime (1998-2004) witnessed stable political relations. These were initially affected by India's nuclear tests in 1998 but the 2003 visit of Prime Minister Vajpayee was seen as peak of their positive understanding. It led to the recasting of border talks by India finally accepting the Chinese formulations of seeking a "political perspective" as method of resolving the border question and by upgrading their border talks to Special Representatives (confidents of two leaders). This was also the time when China finally recognized Sikkim as part of Indian Republic. But this was also the time when their trade relationship had begun to slide.

Would the government under Prime Minister Modi follow the china policy of Mr. Vajpayee, or he will have his own china policy?

Modi may potentially even be a stronger leader than Vajpayee who was known for "consensus building," while Modi is known to push through his own vision and take a strong lead in implementing it. The new government in New Delhi is very likely to focus on issues of social development where China is likely to emerge as its major partner. Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi has visited China several times and is familiar with Chinese leaders which should help in streamlining this partnership and in resolving some of their continuing irritants. Other than resolving the long-standing issue of the trade-deficit, Modi's leadership may welcome greater investments in infrastructure building from China.

The border conflict has always been a difficult issue between India and China, and the last BJP government took quite a hard line position. Will it be different under Mr. Modi?

There has been no fundamental change in India's position or policy stance on the boundary claims. There has been change over the years in the methods to resolve it. India has gradually shown a pragmatic tilt and has evolved from being purely legalistic in its approach to becoming far more practical about it. The most fundamental change occurred during last BJP government when Prime Minister Vajpayee indicated that de facto lines on the boundary (Line of Actual Control) could be potentially evolved into international boundary. The Modi government is not going to make any more changes and will continue with the existing policy of dialogue and engagement.

Some analysts say Mr. Modi has a kind of similarity with his counterpart in Beijing in terms of liberal market economy thinking. And he wants to turn whole India into one "big Gujarat" with a real free market economy that will lead to new infrastructure and job creation. Do you think India could become a real competitor for China, for example in terms of fighting for foreign direct investments and so on?

Strong leadership and strong political support in national legislature makes the governments in China and India look a bit similar. This could mean both sides will better appreciate each other and develop a businesslike relationship. India has been having, like China, a policy of economic opening up and free-market economy and given this stronger leadership and political support, the coming years may witness a far more effective implementation of this policy.

Interview conducted by Shitao Li

Swaran Singh is a professor at the Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament, School of International Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.