INDIA CHINA BILATERAL DEFENCE COOPERATION IN 2008-09
The year 2008 was of great significance for India - China bilateral defence cooperation. The high level military exchanges, joint
exercises, defence dialogue and the Indian Air Force's participation at the 7th
International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Zhuhai Air Show) in China were
contributors as well as indicators of the growing engagement between the two countries.
Bilateral Exchanges. The important high level visits that
took place from India to China in the year 2008 were by Air Chief Marshal
FH Major, PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC, Chief of Air Staff from 04-07 Nov 08 and
by Lt Gen BS Jaswal, AVSM, VSM, GOC 4 Corps (25 - 29 Sep 08). In addition,
17 member HDMC delegation headed by Air Vice Marshal Atul Saikia, Commandnt, College
of Defence Management, Secunderabad visited China in Nov 08. From the Chinese
side, delegations led by Admiral Wu Shengli, Chief of PLA Navy, Maj Gen Ai Husheng,
Chief of Staff, Chengdu Military Region, Maj Gen Zhao Xianfeng, Dy Editor-in-Chief,
PLA Daily and Maj Gen Fangmin Song of PLA University of Science and Technology (PLAUST)
visited India. These exchanges took place despite the PLAs participation in
operations for the search and rescue of survivors of the Sichuan Earthquake in May
08 and subsequently due to their preoccupation with security related duties for
the Beijing Olympics.
IAF Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) at the Zhuhai Airshow.
The Indian Air Force 9 aircraft aero display team, the SKAT participated in the
7th International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Zhuhai Air Show). The
performance of the SKAT was widely applauded and extensively covered in Chinese
media and marked a new beginning for cooperation between the air forces.
2nd Joint Training Exercise. 2nd Joint Training Exercise
between the Indian Army and the PLA "Hand in Hand 2008" was conducted at Belgaum
(India) from 04 - 14 Dec 08. The theme of the Exercise was Counter Terrorism.
Observers from both sides witnessed the closing ceremony. Lt Gen Nobel Thamburaj,
GOC-in-C, Southern Command and Lt Gen Ma Xiaotian, Dy CGS of the PLA were the senior
most observers from the Indian and Chinese sides respectively.
2nd Annual Defence Dialogue. The 2nd Annual Defence Dialogue
between India and China was held in New Delhi on 15 December 2008. The 16
member Indian delegation was led by Shri Vijay Singh, Defence Secretary while the
Chinese side comprising of 12 members was led by Lt Gen Ma Xiaotian, Dy CGS PLA.
2009. Following the high level of bilateral defence cooperation
in 2008, the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral
Sureesh Mehta visited China from 18 - 25 Apr 2009 on a bilateral visit and also
participated in the International Fleet Review in Qingdao from 20 - 23 Apr 2009.
Two Indian Naval ships, INS MUMBAI and INS RANVIR participated in the IFR
from 19 - 23 Apr 2009 and the Indian contingent was the largest to participate at
the event.
BRIEF : INDIA-CHINA DEFENCE COOPERATION
Background
A warming trend in relations between India and China was facilitated
after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visit to China in Dec 1988, wherein it was decided
to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) on the boundary issue. Between Dec 1988 and
Jun 1993, progress was made in reducing tensions on the border via Confidential
Building Measures (CBMs), including mutual troop reductions, regular meetings of
local military commanders and advance notifications of military exercises. Seven
rounds of JWG talks were held during this period. During Shri Sharad Pawar's visit
to Beijing in July 1992, the first ever by an Indian Defence Minister, it was agreed
to develop academic, military, scientific and technological exchanges. A senior
level Chinese military delegation aimed at fostering CBMs between the defence forces
of the two countries made a six day goodwill visit to India in Dec 1993. The
visit was reciprocated by Indian Army Chief Gen BC Joshi's visit to China in July
1994. Since then regular exchanges have been taking place at various levels.
Bilateral defence interaction has been growing. Peace and tranquillity along the
Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas is being largely maintained by
both sides in accordance with the agreements of 1993 and 1996. Recent highlights
in defence relations are the visit by the then Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes,
to China in Apr 2003. The visit came after a gap of more than one decade and
also helped ease the post Pokhran tensions. This was followed by a return
visit by Chinese Defence Minister Gen Cao Gangchuan in Mar 2004. In Dec 2004,
Gen NC Vij, the then COAS visited China, the first by an Indian COAS in a decade,
and both the countries agreed to deepen defence cooperation. In May 2005,
the Chinese CGS visited India, a further sign of warming relations between the two
countries. The Indian Defence Minister visited India in May 2006 and signed
the first ever MoU on Defence Exchanges between the Armed Forces of India and China.
In May 2007 Gen JJ Singh, Chairman COSC and COAS visited China. This was the first
time that Chairman COSC visited China and was hosted by the CGS of the PLA.
In Nov 2008, the Chief of Air Staff of the IAF paid on official visit to China from
02 - 06 Nov 2008. Simultaneously, the Commander PLA Navy paid a visit to India
from 02 to 05 Nov 2008. Chairman COSC and CNS, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, PVSM,
AVSM, ADC visited China and participated in the International Fleet Review to mark
the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of PLA Navy from 19 - 25 Apr 2009.
REVIEW OF DEFENCE EXCHANGES
General. Bilateral defence interaction has been growing. Peace
and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas is being
largely maintained by both sides. Presently our approach has been based on
interaction at a higher level with the heads of departments/institution making visits
to PLA Institutions. Lower level interaction is carried out through training institutions
like NDC and Army War College (AWC). With the formalisation of MoU on Exchanges
in the Field of Defence Cooperation between India and China, the effort to deepen
and institutionalise defence cooperation between the armed forces of India and China
is being reinforced.
Bilateral Exchanges. Details of bilateral exchanges (Service Chiefs
& Ministerial) conducted between the two countries from 2000 to 2008 is attached
as
at Annexure. The bilateral exchanges between India and
China have been steadily increasing with greater exchanges of defence delegations.
Ministerial Level Delegations. From India, the Indian Defence Ministers
have visited China thrice in Jul 1992, Apr 2003 and May 2006. The Chinese Defence
Ministers have visited India twice in Sep 1994 and Mar 2004.
Service Chiefs Level Delegations.
Army. The Chief's of Army Staff (COAS), of the Indian Army have
visited China on three occasions in July 1994, December 2004 and May 2007. The most
recent visit to China was by Gen JJ Singh, COAS and Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee
(COSC) in May 2007. This was the first time that a service Chief visited China in
the capacity of Chairman COSC and was hosted by the CGS of the PLA. Commander Ground
Forces of the Chinese PLA i.e. the Chief of General Staff (CGS) has visited India
twice in May 1998 and May 2005.
Air Force. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Indian Air Force
(IAF) has visited China in May 2001 and more recently, Commander PLA Air Force has
visited India in October 2006.
CAS, IAF visited China in
Nov 2008.
Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy visited China
in March 1996.
Commander, PLA Navy visited India in Nov 2008.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy & Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee
(COSC) visited China from 18 - 25 Apr 2009 (participated in IFR from 20 - 23 Apr
09).
Annual Defence Dialogue. The first Annual Defence Dialogue
between India and China was held in Beijing in Nov 2007. Indian side was led
by Shri Bimal Julka, JS(G/Air), MoD while the Chinese side was led by
Maj Gen Qian Li Hua, Chief of FAO, MND. The second round of the Annual Defence
Dialogue was held in India on 15 Dec 08. The Chinese side was led by Lt Gen
Ma Xiaotian, Dy CGS, PLA & the Indian side was led by Mr Vijay Singh, Defence
Secretary.
Joint Training Exercise. The First Joint
Training Exercise between the Indian Army and the PLA, 'HAND IN HAND 2007' was conducted
at Kunming, China. One Company each from the Indian Army & PLA participated
in the exercise which was based on the theme of Counter Terrorism. Lt Gen
Susheel Gupta, DCOAS was the senior most Indian observer and Lt Gen Ma Xiaotian,
Dy CGS PLA was the senior most observer from the Chinese side. The Second India
China Joint Training Exercise was held in India (Belgaum) in Dec 08 based on the
same theme and participation level. Lt Gen Ma Xiaotian Dy CGS PLA & Lt
Gen N Thamburaj, GOC-in-C Southern Command (now VCOAS) observed the closing ceremony.
IAF Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) at the Zhuhai Airshow.
The Indian Air Force 9 aircraft aero display team, the SKAT participated in the
7th International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Zhuhai Air Show). The
performance of the SKAT was widely applauded and extensively covered in Chinese
media and marked a new beginning for cooperation between the air forces.
VISITS BY SERVICE CHIEFS OF ARMED FORCES : 2000 ONWARDS
|
|
Year |
Delegation Leader |
|
1 |
20-26 May 2001 |
Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis and 04 officers |
|
2 |
20-26 May 2007 |
General JJ Singh Chairman COSC & COAS |
|
3 |
02 to 07 Nov 2008 |
ACM FH Major, PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC, Chief Air Staff |
|
4 |
18 - 25 Apr 2009 |
Admiral Sureesh Mehta, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, CNS & COSC |
CHINA TO INDIA : 2000-2008
|
1 |
10-16 Dec 2003 |
Gen Wu Quanxu, Dy CGS |
|
2 |
23 - 28 May 05 |
Gen Liang Guanglie, CGS, PLA paid a return visit. |
|
3 |
25 Oct-28 Oct 2006 |
Gen Qiao Qingchen, Commander PLA Air Force |
|
4 |
02 to 05 Nov 2008 |
Admiral Wu Shengli, Chief of Naval Staff, PLAN |
MINISTRIAL VISITS FROM INDIA TO CHINA : JAN 2000 ONWARDS
|
S. No |
Date of Visit |
Name / Designation |
Remarks |
|
1 |
20 Apr - 27 Apr 2003 |
Sh George Fernandes, RM |
11 Member delegation |
|
2 |
28 May - 01 Jun 2006 |
H.E. Shri Pranab Mukherjee,Defence Minister |
12 Member delegation Signed MoU on Defence. |
CHINA TO INDIA
|
1 |
27-31 Mar 2004 |
Gen Cao Gangchuan, Defence Minister and Vice Chairman CMC |
|
2 |
23 - 28 May 05 |
Gen Liang Guanglie, CGS and member of CMC
|
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