INDIA CHINA BILATERAL DEFENCE COOPERATION IN 2012

    The “Year of India - China Friendship and Cooperation” was an eventful year for India - China bilateral defence cooperation. In 2012, the Chinese Defence Minister visited India and a “Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India China Border Affairs” was established. In addition to the high level and academic defence exchanges, four Indian Navy Ships made a port call at Shanghai and the PLAN Training Ship ‘Zhenghe’ visited Kochi.

Chinese Defence Minister’s Visit:      Gen Liang Guanglie, Defence Minister and member of Central Military Commission visited India from 02 – 06 Sep 2012. Gen Liang Guanglie called on the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The Indian and Chinese Defence Ministers had an extensive exchange of views on defence and military exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. They also discussed the regional security situation and international issues of common interest and concern. 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.

Establishment of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India China Border Affairs: The first meeting of the working mechanism was held in Beijing on 05-06 Mar 2012. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Gautam Bambawale, Joint Secretary (East Asia), Ministry of External Affairs and the Chinese delegation was led by Mr Deng Zhonghua, Director General, Department of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Second meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs was held at New Delhi on 29-30 November 2012. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Gautam Bambawale, Joint Secretary (East Asia) Ministry of External Affairs and the Chinese delegation was led by Ms. Wang Xiaodu, Special Representative, Department of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 Bilateral Exchanges:  The important high level visits that took place from India to China in the year 2012 were visit by Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, AVSM Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Naval Command during the port call by the naval ships  INS Shivalik, INS Rana, INS Shakti and INS Karmuk to Shanghai in June 2012, visit by NDC delegation led by Air Marshal PK Roy AVSM, VM, VSM in Sep 2012 , visit by an Indian Multi Command delegation led by Maj Gen AL Chavan SM, VSM to Beijing and Chengdu Military Region in Jul 2012 and visits by Defence Staff Services College delegation and Indian Air Force delegation in Sep 2012. The important visits from China to India included port call by PLAN Ship Zhenghe to Kochi in Jun 2012, visits by NDU delegation under Maj Gen Hong Xiaodong and Nanjing Army Command College Delegation led by Maj Gen Geng Weidong and visit by six member delegation led by Maj Gen Yuan Jichang for DEFEXPO 2012.     

BRIEF : INDIA-CHINA DEFENCE COOPERATION

Background

A warming trend in relations between India and China was facilitated after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s 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. Bilateral defence interaction has been growing. Peace and tranquility 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.     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 paid an official visit to China while the Commander PLA Navy was also on a visit to India at roughly the same time.   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 tranquility 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 formalization of MoU on Exchanges in the Field of Defence Cooperation between India and China, the effort to deepen and institutionalize 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 2012 is given below.  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 thrice in Sep 1994, Mar 2004 and Sep 2012.

Service Chiefs Level Delegations:

Army: The Chiefs of Army Staff (COAS), of the Indian Army have visited China on three occasions in July 1994, December 2004 and May 2007. The last 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 Commander PLA Air Force has visited India in October 2006.  Air Chief Marshal FH Major, PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC, Chief of Air Staff visited China from 04-07 Nov 08.

Navy: The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy visited China in March 1996.  Commander, PLA Navy visited India in Nov 2008.  The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta 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 Shri Vijay Singh, Defence Secretary. The third round of Annual Defence Dialogue was held in Beijing (China) on 06 January 2010.  The Indian side was led by Shri Pradeep Kumar, Defence Secretary and Chinese side was led by General Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of General Staff. The fourth Annual Defence dialogue was held in New Delhi on 09 December 2011. Shri Shashi Kant Sharma, Defence Secretary and Gen Ma Xiaotian, Dy CGS co-chaired the talks.

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 and Lt Gen N Thamburaj, GOC-in-C Southern Command observed the closing ceremony.

IAF Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) at the Zhuhai Air show:  The Indian Air Force nine aircraft aerobatics 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.