Antony to visit China next year

Chinese Defence Minister at the Guard of Honour outside South Block

 

Chinese Defence Minister getting a taste of Indian media

Joint statement issued by India and China after delegation-level talks between the two defence ministers-

INDIA AND CHINA AGREE TO EXPAND DEFENCE COOPERATION

NEXT ROUND OF JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE EARLIEST

ANTONY TO VISIT CHINA NEXT YEAR

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

India and China today reached consensus on a wide range of issues relating to defence and military exchanges and cooperation to be conducted this year and beyond.  At the 90 minute delegation level meeting between the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and the visiting Defence Minister of China General Liang Guanglie here in South Block, it was agreed by the two sides to conduct the next round of Joint Military Exercises at the earliest. 

They also agreed to strengthen border security cooperation between the border troops of the two sides so as to enhance and maintain peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas.

The two sides proclaimed their decision to work together to maintain peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, promote port calls by naval ships of the two sides and conduct joint maritime search and rescue exercises.  The two sides decided to further enhance and strengthen cooperation between the naval forces of both sides in counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia.

The Chinese side invited the Shri Antony to visit China in 2013.  Shri Antony thanked General Liang for the invitation and conveyed that the timing of his visit could be settled through diplomatic channels.  The two sides decided to strengthen the high level exchanges between the two defence ministries and Armed Forces of both sides.  They also decided to promote exchange visits by personnel at different levels and in various fields.  The two countries will strengthen exchanges in personnel training, academic research and cooperation between educational institutions of the Armed Forces of both sides.

The two sides also discussed the regional security situation and international issues of common interests and concern.  Both Ministers agreed that expanding bilateral cooperation between the defence ministries and armed forces of India and China helps enhance mutual trust, deepens friendship and promotes comprehensive development of the India-China Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.  The two defence ministers agreed to work together to enhance mutual trust in the security field and continue to maintain peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas.  They noted that the leaders of India and China have designated 2012 as the year of India-China friendship and cooperation.

General Liang inspected an Inter-services Guard of Honour in the forecourt of South Block.

After 7 years Chinese Defence Minister’s India visit on Sep 2

After a hiatus of seven years Chinese Defence Minister General Liang Guanglie will come to India on four-day visit, indicating a thawing of bilateral military relationship that hit an impediment as in July 2010 Beijing denied visa to an Indian Army’s Commander posted in Kashmir. 

 

 

The Chinese Defence Minister’s India visit come shortly before the once-in-decade leadership transition in the country, when the 71-year-old General Guanglie will have to step aside. This is the most high profile defence exchange between the two countries since 2005.

The Chinese Defence Minister will land in Mumbai on September 2 with a 24-member delegation. This former Chief of General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army’s will visit Gandhi Museum in Mumbai and will head to see the famous Taj Mahal before reaching the national capital to hold discussions with his Indian counterpart AK Antony.

This Indo-China defence ties had reached a stage when the two countries had even started joint-military exercises. However, reflecting the deeper on and off nature of the Indo-China defence ties, New Delhi suspended further engagements in July 2010 as Beijing refused to grant visa to the Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal reasoning that he was posted to “sensitive” Jammu and Kashmir region. It was followed by similar incidents, when China continued to prick India’s stated position on Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh by refusing visa to defence personnels and sportspersons from the region.

“The talks will hover around how to strengthen the military ties between the two countries who share nearly 3,300 km of disputed yet peaceful border. No exercises have been planned this year, so the thrust of the talks with the Defence Minister are likely to hover around need of these exercises future,” sources said.

There has been renewed interest in China to give a fresh impetus to the dithering military ties as made evident by the PLA hosting an Indian Military delegation and taking them to Tibet bordering northern India. China has been sensitive about opening up Tibet military bases to India in the past.

China has also been keen to increase the number of defence attaches posted in each others’ countries. Presently, only one Defence Attaché is posted by both countries to capitals, Beijing has suggested to permanent post one representative each of the army, air force and navy in each others’ embassies.

Besides a disputed land border, both the countries also have overlapping strategic interests in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean Region. An ugly stand-off was averted earlier this year, when a Chinese warship threatened an Indian warship in the South China Sea while on its way back from Vietnam. To avoid any misunderstandings in the region, both the countries have decided to set up maritime hotlines just on the basis of the arrangement on the land.