Xi-Modi Talks: A New Type of Sino-Indian Relationship?

Synopsis

The Xi-Modi meeting at the recent BRICS summit reflects the nascent upturn in Sino-Indian relations since Narendra Modi’s ascension to power in India. Will the relationship’s trajectory be limited to ‘Chindianomics’?

Commentary

The recent BRICS summit in Fortaleza, Brazil saw the holding of the first meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders pledged to work towards a solution to their longstanding border dispute. Modi described the meeting as extremely fruitful while Xi extolled India as a long-lasting friend.

The Xi-Modi meeting reflects the continuation of an upturn in Sino-Indian relations since Modi’s ascension to power in India. The positive developments have led observers to ask whether there will be a shift in dynamics between the world’s two largest developing economies. To couch the question in Chinese parlance: Are we seeing the emergence of a ‘new’ type of major power relations between China and India?

Chindianomics

One factor that could play an increasingly bigger role in shaping the China-India relationship is economics. Currently, commercial relations between these Asian giants are still relatively modest. Sino-Indian trade of around US$65 billion in 2013 is a trickle in the context of a combined annual GDP of more than US$10 trillion. Last year bilateral trade recorded a decrease for the second year running. This situation could soon change.

Prime Minister Modi, who had campaigned successfully on promises of India’s economic rejuvenation, will look towards Beijing as a viable source of cooperation for achieving the ‘Indian dream.’ Modi will welcome greater Chinese investments in India, in particular, in infrastructure building as well as the manufacturing and technology sectors. Already, the two sides have signed a path breaking Memorandum of Understanding on establishing joint industrial parks, providing a more coherent framework for Chinese investments in India. Modi will also seek to address the trade deficit problem—a record of around $31 billion last year—by pushing for greater Chinese market access for Indian IT and pharmaceutical exports.

Beijing has agreed that more can be done to address India’s mounting trade deficit with China. For China, economics remains its most effective foreign policy instrument globally. The Sino-Indian relationship is not an exception, and Beijing will seek to boost bilateral economic cooperation. With reserves over US$3.8 trillion, China is keen to invest more in India, seeing the country as a huge untapped market. This aligns with Chinese ambitions to establish a South Asian economic corridor through India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

While much of China’s economic relations are driven by hard-nosed pragmatism, individual personalities are often part of the equation as well. In Modi, China sees an ‘old friend’ it believes it can do business with. It was not lost on the Chinese that during his time as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi visited China several times, took the trouble of printing his business card in Mandarin, and made active efforts to court Chinese investment. Today, a significant amount of Chinese investment in India is concentrated in Gujarat.

Strategic Considerations

Of course, economics while vital, does not solely define the complex Sino-Indian relationship. Other important strategic factors are in play. The current Chinese leadership sees India as a significant geopolitical and diplomatic actor, both regionally and globally, and President Xi has announced that India will be a ‘priority’ for Chinese diplomacy. The Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Xi as suggesting to Modi that ‘China and India should jointly participate in the formulation of international rules so as to strengthen the voice of developing countries.

China’s western periphery has grown in strategic importance for Beijing, in view of geopolitical pressures from the U.S. rebalance to Asia and its own declining reputation and relations in East Asia. China can ill afford to have further problems with neighbours on its western flank, especially a major power like India. Beijing is also aware that Modi enjoys good relations with Tokyo and that the Abe government is keen to boost ties with India. It will not be in China’s interests if India and Japan move closer at its expense.

For New Delhi, improved relations with China will help strengthen its bargaining position in regional politics (especially in relation to Pakistan); enhance its independent big power credentials; and extend opportunities for bilateral security cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism.

The factors promoting convergence do not mean that extant mutual distrust and bilateral challenges such as the Tibet issue and the border dispute will become less relevant. On the contrary, these differences will continue to cast a shadow over China-India relations and may even set the relationship back.

That said, there have been recent positive signals that some of the traditionally difficult bilateral knots may be further loosened. Signally, on the boundary question, China has indicated that it is prepared to reach a ‘final settlement’ with India, reflecting an unusual degree of confidence and goodwill in dealing with the new Modi regime.

Optimistic outlook

Overall, the outlook is one of cautious optimism for the trajectory of Sino-Indian relations. Enduring bilateral distrust and complications like Tibet and the border dispute will continue to be major obstacles. But with ‘Chindianomics’ figuring high in both governments’ estimations, and New Delhi and Beijing seemingly committed to the advancement of strong ties, there appear to be good prospects for sustained positive momentum in Sino-Indian relations. Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister and President Xi’s special envoy to India, has likened the Sino-Indian partnership to a ‘massive buried treasure.’ Perhaps some of that treasure is about to be uncovered.

 

Hoo Tiang Boon is Assistant Professor with the China Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. A version of the article first appeared in the Bloomberg Brief.