China wants a finger in Kashmir problem

Diplomatic sources said this was the first time China was publicly suggesting the convening of a multilateral meeting to discuss the Kashmir issue and it more or less confirms to US President Bill Clinton8217;s view that China should be involved in settling the differences between India and Pakistan.

8220;Indian government officials should stop spreading the China Menace8217; theory, which will create suspicion and hostility between the two peoples,8221; the article quoting leading Chinese experts on SouthAsia warns.

8220;The Indian government8217;s unreasonable attacks on China deeply hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and undermine the mutual trust the two countries have been trying to build over generations,8221; says MA Jiali, an expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations CICIR.

The article says that China has clearly stated that its military modernisation does not target any other nation and it was in line with China8217;s national defence needs.

Ouyang Liping, an expert with the CICIR points out that China has consistently adhered to the policy of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and denies aiding Pakistan8217;s clandestine nuclear programme.

8220;China8217;s nuclear co-operation with foreign countries, including Pakistan, is strictly limited to peaceful use of nuclear energy and is subject to the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA,8221; he says.

The latest outburst from Beijing comes in the wake of the Ministry of Defence annual report 1997-98 whichChina says plays the old trick8217; of spreading the China Menace theory8217; to hide India8217;s ambitions of building 8220;regional hegemony and becoming a major political power.8221;

8220;In the report, the Indian government did not examine its mistake in provoking a dangerous nuclear arms race. It vilified China as the main reason for the deterioration of South Asia8217;s security environment instead,8221; the article says.

Describing the BJP-led government as headstrong,8217; the article accuses New Delhi of conducting the May 11 and 13 nuclear tests to gain hegemony8217; in the region and also criticised the hike in its military budget.

8220;India8217;s recent nuclear explosions reflect a dangerous ultra-nationalism and its ambition to build a regional hegemony and become a major political power,8221; Ouyang says, adding that some Indian politicians8217; accusation that China threatens India8217;s security is untenable8217; and groundless.8217;

8220;Continuously denying its faults and spreading lies will not win sympathy or trust from others but willmake the international community more vigilant against its ambitions,8221; said Jiali.

8220;India should first abandon its nuclear development plan unconditionally so as to convince8217; Pakistan to follow its steps,8221; Jiali says while pointing out that only if New Delhi and Islamabad unconditionally signs the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty CTBT and nuclear non-proliferation treaty NPT, can the danger of a nuclear war be reduced in South Asia.