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Much at Stake as Xi Jinping, Chinese Leader, Visits India With Much at Stake, Chinese Leader Visits India
(about 7 hours later)
NEW DELHI — India’s new prime minister, Narendra Modi, celebrated his 64th birthday on Wednesday by hosting President Xi Jinping of China in his home state, Gujarat, as the leaders of Asia’s two giants laid the foundation for a long-term relationship that carries huge stakes for both. NEW DELHI — India’s new prime minister, Narendra Modi, celebrated his 64th birthday on Wednesday by hosting President Xi Jinping of China in his home state, Gujarat, as the leaders of Asia’s two giants laid the foundation for a relationship that will carry huge stakes for both countries.
It is the first visit of a Chinese president to India in eight years — only the third in history — and the reasons for mutual good will are compelling. The visit is the first by a Chinese president to India in eight years. China has the ability to channel billions of dollars into Indian infrastructure and manufacturing projects, allowing Mr. Modi to pursue the jobs-creation agenda that was at the heart of his campaign. China needs calm on its southwestern border to offset tense relationships with Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and the United States. State-run Chinese newspapers have lavished praise on Mr. Modi, implying that he has the potential to set India on a trajectory of economic growth similar to the one that China has followed. But those interests are balanced by deep mistrust on security matters.
China has the ability to channel billions of dollars into Indian infrastructure and manufacturing projects, allowing Mr. Modi to pursue the job-creation agenda that was at the heart of his campaign. China, meanwhile, needs calm on its southwestern border to offset tense relationships with Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and the United States. State-run Chinese newspapers have lavished praise on Mr. Modi, intimating that he has the potential to set India on a Chinese-style economic growth trajectory. Even as India prepared an opulent riverfront dinner for Mr. Xi in Gujarat this week, troops and slogan-chanting civilians were facing off along the disputed border between China and India, where the two countries fought a brief war in 1962. India has discussed improving maritime cooperation with Australia and Japan and proposed tighter defense and energy ties with Vietnam — all moves that could be seen as a challenge to China. Meanwhile, China is building ports and other facilities throughout South Asia, implementing a strategy called the “string of pearls,” which India views warily.
But those interests are balanced by deep historical mistrust on security matters. M. J. Akbar, a spokesman for Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, said the new government would assert India’s role as a leading power in the region without fear of irritating China.
Indeed, even as India prepared an opulent riverfront dinner for Mr. Xi in Gujarat this week, troops and slogan-chanting civilians were facing off along the disputed border between China and India, where the two countries fought a brief war in 1962. India has discussed beefing up maritime cooperation with the navies of Australia and Japan and proposed tighter defense and energy ties with Vietnam — all moves that could be seen as a challenge to China. Meanwhile, China is building ports and other facilities throughout South Asia, a so-called string of pearls strategy that India views warily. “I think that China doesn’t respect you unless you respect yourself,” Mr. Akbar said, adding, “I think China is very clear that no element of confrontation should escalate to the point of hostility, because it knows that its economic project is still far from complete.”
M. J. Akbar, a spokesman for Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, said the new government would assert India’s role as a leading power in the region without fear of irritating China. In a departure from custom, the Chinese leader’s three-day visit began not in the Indian capital, but in Ahmedabad, the financial hub of Gujarat, where Mr. Modi was the chief minister. Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi, both wearing traditional Indian vests, visited Mohandas K. Gandhi’s ashram. They then wandered along the Sabarmati Riverfront, a project championed by Mr. Modi that involved bulldozing sprawling slums and replacing them with a modernist concrete promenade.
“I think that China doesn’t respect you unless you respect yourself,” Mr. Akbar said. He added, “I think China is very clear that no element of confrontation should escalate to the point of hostility, because it knows that its economic project is still far from complete.” On Thursday in New Delhi, the two are expected to sign pacts pledging Chinese investment in Indian projects. Officials have suggested that the investments could amount to about $100 billion, nearly three times the amount pledged by Japan this month.
The Chinese leader’s three-day visit began not in the Indian capital, but in Ahmedabad, the financial hub of Gujarat, itself a departure from custom. Mr. Modi, a former chief minister of Gujarat, and Mr. Xi, wearing matching traditional sleeveless jackets, visited Mohandas K. Gandhi's ashram. They then wandered along the Sabarmati Riverfront, a project that the Indian leader championed, and which involved bulldozing sprawling riverfront slums and replacing them with a broad, concrete, modernist promenade. In a commentary published on Wednesday in The Hindu, a daily newspaper, Mr. Xi argued for closer economic cooperation between China and India, which he described as “the world’s factory” and the “world’s back office.” He said China could help India improve its infrastructure and manufacturing base and open Chinese markets to Indian pharmaceuticals and Internet technology — a move that could narrow a $30 billion trade imbalance between the two countries.
On Thursday in New Delhi, the two are expected to sign pacts pledging Chinese investment in Indian projects. Officials have suggested the package could amount to about $100 billion, nearly three times the amount pledged by Japan this month. In an editorial in Global Times, a pro-government newspaper published in Beijing, a Chinese policy analyst said Indian support was essential because three-quarters of China’s imported oil passes through the Indian Ocean.
In a commentary published on Wednesday in The Hindu, a daily newspaper, Mr. Xi argued for closer economic cooperation between China and India, which he described as “the world’s factory” and the “world’s back office.” He said China could help India improve its infrastructure and manufacturing base and open Chinese markets to Indian pharmaceuticals and Internet technology services — a move that could narrow the $30 billion trade imbalance between the two countries. “For a long time, South Asia has been a weak link in China’s peripheral diplomacy,” wrote the analyst, Zhao Minghao, an adjunct fellow with the Center for International and Strategic Studies at Peking University. Warm relations between South Asian governments and Washington and Tokyo “sound an alarm for Beijing,” he wrote.
In an editorial in Global Times, a pro-government English-language newspaper published in Beijing, a Chinese policy analyst said Indian support had become essential because three-quarters of China’s imported oil passed through the Indian Ocean.
“For a long time, South Asia has been a weak link in China’s peripheral diplomacy,” wrote the analyst, Zhao Minghao, an adjunct fellow with the Center for International and Strategic Studies at Peking University. Warm ties between South Asian governments and Washington and Tokyo “sound an alarm for Beijing,” he wrote.
“Compared with the U.S. and Japan, China shows more understanding of the urgent needs of South Asian countries for an economic boost,” he wrote.“Compared with the U.S. and Japan, China shows more understanding of the urgent needs of South Asian countries for an economic boost,” he wrote.
Since taking office in May, Mr. Modi has surprised many by making foreign policy a major focus, often taking unexpected risks, like inviting Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to attend his swearing-in. After early visits to India’s neighbors Bhutan and Nepal, he spent five days as the guest of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, with whom he shares a bond so cordial that newspapers have referred to their relationship as a “bromance.” Since taking office in May, Mr. Modi has surprised many by making foreign policy a major focus, often taking unexpected risks, like inviting Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to attend his swearing-in. After early visits to neighboring Bhutan and Nepal, he spent five days as the guest of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.
His diplomatic blitz will culminate with a visit to the United States at the end of the month. The United States has had little opportunity to build a relationship with Mr. Modi, largely because it imposed a punitive visa ban after religious riots broke out in Gujarat, then led by Mr. Modi, in 2002, leading to the deaths of more than 1,000 people.The United States also lacks the economic leverage of China and Japan, which can offer major investment in Indian packages. Mr. Modi’s diplomatic campaign will culminate with a visit to the United States at the end of this month. The United States has had little opportunity to build a relationship with Mr. Modi, largely because it revoked his visa after sectarian riots broke out in Gujarat under his administration in 2002, leading to more than 1,000 deaths. The United States also lacks the economic leverage of China and Japan, which can deliver major investments to India. The United States can, however, support projects that matter to Mr. Modi, like the development of so-called smart cities and the manufacture of American-designed weapons in India. Also, the United States is closely allied with Japan and can play a balancing role in maritime security disputes with China, a subject that is clearly on Mr. Modi’s mind.
The United States can, however, throw its support behind some projects that matter to Mr. Modi, like the development of smart cities and the manufacture of American-designed weapons in India. And whether or not it is openly discussed, the United States is closely allied with Japan and can play a balancing role in maritime security disputes with China, a subject that is clearly on Mr. Modi’s mind. Mr. Modi gave a hint of his thinking in an address to business leaders in Tokyo earlier this month. He did not specifically mention China, but his remarks were widely interpreted as commentary on Beijing’s military and economic muscle-flexing.
Mr. Modi gave a hint of his strategic thinking in an address to business leaders in Tokyo earlier this month. While Mr. Modi made no specific mention of China, his remarks were understood by many as a commentary on Beijing’s military and economic muscle-flexing.
“The world is divided in two camps,” Mr. Modi said. “One camp believes in expansionist policies while the other believes in development. We have to decide whether the world should get caught in the grip of expansionist policies or we should lead it on the path of development and create opportunities that take it to greater heights.”“The world is divided in two camps,” Mr. Modi said. “One camp believes in expansionist policies while the other believes in development. We have to decide whether the world should get caught in the grip of expansionist policies or we should lead it on the path of development and create opportunities that take it to greater heights.”