Hand in hand
December 21st, 2007 - by Nazia VasiIn the wake of the India’s nuclear deal, the border issue and China’s ties with Pakistan, India and China are getting ready for a new new game. Today, ending more than more than 45 years of frosty relations, the armies of India and China are holding their first joint military exercise. This is in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on exchange and cooperation in the field of defence, signed between India and China in 2006.
Indian and Chinese army officers ‘hand in hand’
Although security issues do exist and both India and China view eachother with suspicion, it was nice to come across news of the two armies taking part in joint exercies aptly code named ‘exercise hand in hand’ to practice counter terrorism and counter-insurgency drills.For the Asian giants, it’s a significant event especially since the two nations are regarded as competitors if not adversaries in Asia. Led by Brigadier DS Dadwal, the 100-strong Indian army team will conduct a week-long counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism exercise along with troops of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the Yunnan province bordering Myanmar.
Earlier this year, two ships of the Indian Navy made a port call at Qingdao and participated in a joint exercise with the PLA Navy. The countries also held their first ever Annual Defence Dialogue in China in November this year.
Its good to see that the armies of both nations are working together building confidence and counteracting terrorism. New reports say that the main purpose is to get a feel of each other and see if they can work together in the future. The key word is inter-operability. Both countries would be in better equipped just in case the military of the two countries need to fight terrorists in future,” a senior defense ministry official told Times News Network over phone from Delhi.
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December 22nd, 2007 at 6:12 am
Even though it is mostly symbolic, it is still a positive step.
December 22nd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I just wonder at Fa Hien and Huang Psuang who crossed the himalayas 2000 years back to gain knowledge from nalanda. Why the ordinary chinese are not seen in the streets of Delhi or Mumbai or Tajmahal or even BodhGaya? We have more white skinned tourists than chinese. Agreed india is woefully lack in good roads,infrastructure ; compared to china; but it should be all the more reason for chinese to show adventure like the white skinned westerners who also face these bad roads and dirtiness of india.
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
That is strange indeed, considering we are neighbors. But living in China, i find that in general the chinese do not venture beyond their districts of residence. They tend to be clannish & stick to an area they know rather than venture into mysterious lands. Most chinese havn’t been to many parts of their own city!
Westerners on the other hand are extremenly adventurous, always seeking new lands.
Nonetheless. as trade increases and borders become more free, I am confident a lot more Chinese tourists will visit India and vice versa.
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:39 am
i feel it’s not because chinese are not adventurous but because india is not on agenda for chinese tourists.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:57 am
Are you guys a blog or a news site? I am just wondering since Mr. Ellis just came out against blogs over at his China Briefing “news site.”
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:52 pm
I tend to agree with Mango, Why is India still not on the agenda of Chinese toursits? Its because most Chinese 1: don’t own a passport (it is too expensive for many to travel) and 2: From my experience, many chinese lack the enthusiasm.
However, i must say that in the last few days i have come across 2 chinese who expressed a great desire and curiosity to visit India to experience where buddha came from, goto Goa and party and visit the Taj Mahal, so i guess, we gotta be optimistic, the chinese will travel to India.
December 24th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Nazia, even though it is true that the majority of the Chinese don’t own a passport (the same with pretty much every country, I assume. Most Americans don’t own a passport), but scores of Chinese tourists have made their ways to various destinations in SE Asia (Thailand and Malaysia particularly), Japan, South Korea and many parts of Europe.
I think the reason why Chinese tourists have not gone to India in doves like they have to say Thailand is because (1) India traditionally was not a tourist destination for the Chinese given the chilling relationship between the two countries (2) Indian government has not opened up to Chinese tourists by approving Chinese travel agencies to market Indian tours (3) Indian government has not done a great job promoting India as a tourist destination. How many foreign tourists go to places other than where Taj Mahal is?
I for one want to visit Varanasi.
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
to say Thailand is because (1) India traditionally was not a tourist destination for the Chinese given the chilling relationship between the two countries (2) Indian government