The Hindu Business Line : Obama’s visit to China

Everybody has been worked up over the role supposedly assigned to China by the US to mend India-Pakistan relations. There should be no attempt to go behind the manifest meanings of words with subjective, unsubstantiated or extraneous considerations.

B. S. Raghavan

The conclusion of the visit of the US President, Mr Barack Obama, to China to confer with the Chinese President, Mr Hu Jintao, and news reports of their formal joint statement and separate observations in a subsequent media conference have given rise to a purposeless frenzy in certain sections of India’s print and electronic media over a non-existent non-issue.

It is hard to tell whether the whipping up of the ruckus was a result of adopting, for the purpose of increasing the ratings and the circulation, a deliberate, though unethical, tactic to create the illusion of a grave jeopardy to India or whether it is due to the lack of comprehension of the stylised language of such statements, or just plain and simple shoddiness and negligence in cross-checking facts.

Whatever that be, everybody has been worked up to fever pitch over the role supposedly assigned to China by the US to mend India-Pakistan relations. And everybody’s time and energy have been wasted over the US blessing the assumption of the overlordship of Asia by China to the detriment of India and the push and shove to which this will subject India undermining its sovereignty and self-respect.

A bilateral matter

Media correspondents thrusting their mikes got their bellyful of sound bytes from every passing Minister and diplomat, newspapers had screaming headlines over an impending catastrophe, calamity and casualty all rolled into one, TV channels lined up analysts, strategists and columnists to pontificate on the tragedy, with the result that the Ministry of External Affairs had no other go than to declare solemnly and with a stiff upper lip that India would not countenance any third-party role in resolving issues relating to its relations with Pakistan and it would continue to remain entirely a bilateral matter. The US State Department was also forced to follow suit to say that nothing has been said or done to detract from the importance that country attached to partnership with India.

All that is necessary for realising the waste of time and energy involved in this raging furore is for everyone to take a little effort to go word-by-word into the contents of both the formal joint statement and the two separate statements to the media by Mr Hu and Mr Obama.

Let us now have a close, clinical look at the relevant parts of the Obama-Hu summit proceedings.

Let us, in doing so, apply the salient rule in interpreting the purport of any statement which is that there should be no attempt to go behind the manifest meanings of words with subjective, unsubstantiated or extraneous considerations.

The only reference to India and Pakistan in the joint official statement occurs in the following passage:

“The two sides welcomed all efforts conducive to peace, stability and development in South Asia. They support the efforts of Afghanistan and Pakistan to fight terrorism, maintain domestic stability and achieve sustainable economic and social development, and support the improvement and growth of relations between India and Pakistan. (My comment: There is nothing objectionable in this expression of support.)

The two sides are ready to strengthen communication, dialogue and cooperation on issues related to South Asia and work together to promote peace, stability and development in that region.” (My comment: There is nothing wrong in this pious objective.)

Beating of breasts

As can be seen, there is nothing at all in this excerpt to which exception can be taken. Even reading behind the lines does not point to any ulterior motives as regards India-Pakistan relations.

In so far as the remarks of the two leaders meant for the media by way of annotation, Mr Hu made no mention at all about issues concerning India-Pakistan, nor about China’s wish or intention to ply any overarching role. His statement is the model of restraint and political correctness. Mr Obama, however, indulged in some embroidering of China’s importance, but went nowhere near delineating its role in respect of India or Pakistan. Mark his words:

“The major challenges of the 21st century, from climate change to nuclear proliferation to economic recovery, are challenges that touch both our nations, and challenges that neither of our nations can solve by acting alone… (My comment: This is self-evident and indisputable.)

Positive gain

That’s why the US welcomes China’s efforts in playing a greater role on the world stage — a role in which a growing economy is joined by growing responsibilities (leading to) a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive relationship between our nations…” (My comment: Nothing in it for India and Pakistan to panic!)

The following passage is the only place in which Mr Obama refers to Pakistan, without in any way linking it with India:

“President Hu and I also discussed our mutual interest in security and stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan. And neither country can or should be used as a base for terrorism, and we agreed to cooperate more on meeting this goal, including bringing about more stable, peaceful relations in all of South Asia.”

(My comment: There is some positive gain for India in Mr Obama admonishing Pakistan not to lend its territory for use by terrorists. India can also heartily join in the aim of promoting stable, peaceful relations in all of South Asia.)

So, where, my media friends, do you find even a remote or oblique hint at the US pitching for a role for China in India-Pakistan affairs, justifying all the beating of breasts witnessed in the past two days?

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