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Post |
| Koko |
Posted
on 24-Jun-03 08:45 AM
India and China agree over Tibet
Talks between India and China have led to a major breakthrough in relations, following a landmark agreement over the status of Tibet.
India has now formally recognised that the area known as the Tibetan autonomous region is part of the People's Republic of China.
China, for its part, has agreed to start border trade through Sikkim - a move that is being seen as an acceptance by Beijing of India's claim over that area.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee says relations with China have been transformed as the two sides seek new ways to overcome their differences.
However, BBC India correspondent Sanjeev Srivastava says the joint declaration is in reality as much diplomatic fudging as genuine progress in areas of differences.
The Tibet and Sikkim agreements are the first details to emerge of a declaration signed by India and China aimed at solving their long-running border disputes, which erupted into war in 1962.
Mr Vajpayee is on the second full day of what is the first visit to China by an Indian prime minister for 10 years.
"Our present course of developing all-round bilateral co-operation, while simultaneously addressing our differences, has transformed the quality of our relationship," Mr Vajpayee said on Tuesday.
He was speaking after talks with former Chinese President, Jiang Zemin.
The world's two most populous nations have appointed envoys "to explore from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship the framework of a boundary settlement", according to a joint declaration released after the talks.
Mr Vajpayee added: "The appointment of special envoys is a special step that reflects the desire of both countries to settle the border issue as early as possible."
The joint declaration adds that India will not allow "anti-China political activities" by Tibetan exiles, who have fled to India in their tens of thousands.
The Indian Foreign Minister has said this will not affect the status of the Buddhist Dalai Lama, who leads a Tibetan government-in-exile based in the Indian town of Dharamsala.
The agreement has surprised observers as border disputes have bedevilled relations between China and India.
Fifteen rounds of talks since the 1980s have failed to resolve India and China's boundary disagreements.
Even in this declaration, our India correspondent says, the Indian leadership is keen to differentiate between the Tibet autonomous region and the whole of Tibet.
Promoting co-operation
On Monday, Mr Vajpayee and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao signed nine agreements to boost relations between the two Asian rivals.
The agreements include:
Increasing co-operation in science, technology, commerce and education Easing visa rules Setting up joint infrastructure development projects, focusing on water and energy resources Establishing cultural centres in each others' countries
China and India, which account for a third of the world's population, have had unsteady relations since their 1962 border war.
The two countries said they had now designated Changgu in Sikkim and Renqinggan in Tibet as Himalayan border trading posts.
But it seems the new stage of relations will not be without its problems.
Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said: "We have achieved what we set out for. We have created a platform for further action."
But he added that there was no question of a change in the Indian position.
"What we have said on Tibet is consistent with what we have said in the past and I don't think the question of the Dalai Lama leaving India or asking to leave India arises at this time," he told Reuters news agency.
The Dalai Lama's London representative, Kesang Y Takla, described India's position as "not new... but it is certainly of interest and concern to all three parties concerned".
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said a dispute with India over Sikkim still had to be resolved.
"The question of Sikkim is an enduring question which cannot be solved overnight," he told reporters.
"We hope this question can be solved gradually."
Story from BBC NEWS:
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| Yadav |
Posted
on 24-Jun-03 08:48 AM
Babaal bho ni ta!!
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| Koko |
Posted
on 24-Jun-03 08:49 AM
Man this is dangerous...How on earth can the Dhoti's betray the Tibetans like that ? It won't be long before these two make a treaty sayin' you take the north part of Nepal and I will take the south part...WHat next ?
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| suva chintak |
Posted
on 24-Jun-03 09:17 AM
Koko,
Thanks for the important piece of news...this is big stuff for the himalayan region. I think there is something to your point about the Dhotis and the Chinks cutting a deal saying you take north of the himalayas and we will rule the southern slopes.
I wonder if the likes of Sen. Feinstein will call for a boycott of India in the Senate. I think this is biggest blow for Tibetan refugees, I wonder if their American patrons will be brave enough to speak against the Indians.
Sorry for the double posting of the same news!
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| Arnico |
Posted
on 24-Jun-03 10:09 AM
So what effect does the trade route through Sikkim have on Nepal? Any effect on Khasa?
How about on the trade via Darchula-Taklakot???
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| Koko |
Posted
on 24-Jun-03 12:34 PM
If China starts to dump good to India through Nepal.. The Nepali Business from Khasaa will eventually phase out. In the Past Nepal had been the Dumping ground for China for all the goods that were rejected by the Western world. Most good were cheap with some faults. And most of them were being Smuggled into India by Indian Businessmen(Chinese goods better in Quality than Indians). Now all those Smugglers are going to move to India and Make Siikim their New home. But on the same note I doubt if Big Businesses like Tata or Birla are going to sit down quietly and let the Chinese take over their Marketshare. Because of tight restrictions lobbied by these big business(eg tata) gave birth to this whole tradeway...There is only so much market share in Nepali but big $$$$$ was always on the turnover in India. I gues thats not gonna happen now.
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| Poonte |
Posted
on 27-Jun-03 06:30 AM
From The Wall Street Journal (Tuesday, 6/24/03):
China has discovered hydrocarbon reserves in Tibet totalling
95 billion barrels. They have discovered 7 oil and gas bearing
structures in Qiantang, 124 miles north of Lhasa.
China Petroleum(Sinopec) plans to drill 2-3 exploration wells next
year. Sinopec made its discovery in 1999.
*****Is this going to change the geopolitical status of Tibet?*****
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