From Force Magazine, via South Asia Analysis Group:
The refusal of the Chinese government to give a visa to an IAS officer from Arunachal Pradesh has triggered off a widespread wave of public indignation across India. This was not an isolated incident. Last year, just before Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to India, when the Chinese Ambassador had made a public statement reasserting China’s claim to not only Tawang but to the whole of Arunachal Pradesh, there had been public concern over the blunt Chinese articulation of their position. The latent mistrust of China, that was well entrenched among the security agencies but of late was missing in the public perceptions and within the strategic community, has now resurfaced at a popular level. This episode has reopened the wounds of 1962. Perhaps it calls for a re-evaluation of our policy approach towards China, especially on the boundary question. [Full Text]
Rajiv Sikri is former Secretary (East) at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Read also India, China: Read between the (border) lines by Animesh Roul from ISN Security Watch.
