Why ‘love thy neighbour’ is still great advice for China and India

Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s (王毅) meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on August 13 was the first high-level bilateral contact since China’s move to block India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

From Wang’s perspective, the purpose of his visit was to secure India’s cooperation at upcoming multilateral meetings like the G20, BRICS, and East Asia summits, while also discussing trade and investment, visas and tourism, and cultural and academic exchanges.

China and India look to strengthen relationship

Contentious issues did come up and Swaraj reiterated India’s opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a US$46 billion project to transport goods from China’s western regions through the Pakistani port of Gwadar.

Since China blocked India’s entry to the NSG, the fallout has continued. Last month, India deployed 100 tanks to its border with China and then refused to extend the visas of three Chinese journalists who reportedly made unauthorised visits to Tibetan refugee camps. New Delhi has also stated its willingness to help other Asian countries with rights claims in the South China Sea, and Indian navy ships took part in joint military exercises with the Malaysian navy.

Vietnam demands China move oil rig from Gulf of Tonkin, blaming Beijing for complicating sovereignty row

New Delhi also sanctioned the deployment of additional supersonic missiles in the Eastern sector, to ramp up capabilities along the Chinese border. During Modi’s upcoming visit to Vietnam, he is expected to offer a range of military equipment and on August 10, Hanoi affirmed that India can drill for oil in the South China Sea, despite Beijing’s threats.