Shift in China's foreign policy under Hu: experts:
This is a very important change in that China now sees its future in nationalism and in Asia and it wants a resurgent Asia.
Bush’s expansion in Asia is the catalyst that has brought Russia, China and India together. These are ‘major countries’ who share a certain vision about how the world should look and that image does not include the United States as sole superpower. The ‘zeal’ Bush has so ignorantly pursued has cost the United States it’s dominate role in world affairs.
Both said Tang's endorsement of India's claim should be seen in the context of the changes in the international situation, particularly after the terrorist attacks on the US and the expanding presence of the US in Asia.
"They are now particularly keen to improve relations with the neighbours, including India and engage them more actively," Dutta said.
Said Nalapat: "The coming to power of President Hu Jintao marks a major change in China. It now sees its future in nationalism and in Asia and it wants a resurgent Asia.
-Am
Shift in China's foreign policy under Hu: experts:
[India News]: New Delhi, Oct 21 : China's endorsement of India's claim to a seat in the UN Security Council marks a major shift from Beijing's earlier stand and reflects the new Asian orientation in its foreign policy under President Hu Jintao, analysts say.
Tang Jiaxuan, state councillor and one of China's most senior leaders who concluded a three-day visit to India, conveyed Beijing's support for "a bigger role for India in the international community, including in the United Nations Security Council", during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
There was no immediate reaction from the Indian government to the surprise announcement by the Chinese leader, which almost coincided with the 42nd anniversary of their bitterly fought border war and reflected the rapidly growing ties between Asia's two most populous nations.
New Delhi should be delighted over the Chinese endorsement of its cause because it came despite China's close ally Pakistan strongly opposing India getting a permanent seat in a reformed Security Council.
China is the fourth member out of the five permanent members of the Security Council to support India's claim to a permanent seat in the Security Council. Russia, Britain and France have already voiced their support while the US has skirted the issue.
According to M.D. Nalapat, China expert and professor of geopolitics and Unesco Peace Chair at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, the endorsement indicated that India occupied a "core role" in President Hu's foreign policy.
"Tang's endorsement indicates the new importance given to India in China's foreign policy under President Hu and shows a marked change from the West-oriented policy of (former president) Jiang Zemin," he said.
But Sujit Dutta, a senior fellow and specialist on China at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), a Delhi-based think tank, said too much should not be read into Tang's announcement.
He said there is need for more careful study of the statement, but agreed that it marked a change on known Chinese stand on the issue.
"There is a tactical shift in China's position on the issue and Tang Jiaxuan's statement shows they are quite aware that India is quite sensitive to China's position on the issue," Dutta said.
"They are making their position more positive," he said.
Dutta noted that while supporting UN reforms and expanding the Security Council, China in the past had opposed veto rights to new permanent members.
"What they have been suggesting was a two-tier system of permanent members, those with veto powers and those without, in addition to the existing two-tier of permanent and non-permanent members," he said.
However, Nalapat said those Chinese statements were made during the presidency of Jiang Zemin when China looked to the West, but the current disposition's policies were markedly different.
"The present Chinese leadership is aware that there cannot be two classes of membership because they themselves have been fighting against such discrimination," he said.
Both said Tang's endorsement of India's claim should be seen in the context of the changes in the international situation, particularly after the terrorist attacks on the US and the expanding presence of the US in Asia.
"They are now particularly keen to improve relations with the neighbours, including India and engage them more actively," Dutta said.
Said Nalapat: "The coming to power of President Hu Jintao marks a major change in China. It now sees its future in nationalism and in Asia and it wants a resurgent Asia.
"And it is willing to accept India as another big Asian country, whereas it is not willing to accept Japan," he said, noting that Tokyo is also an aspirant for a permanent seat in the Security Council.
He said China's policy towards India under Jiang Zemin was dominated by the Western concept of balance of power and divide and rule.
Almaty (Kazakshtan), Oct 21.(PTI): India, Russia and China today discussed various international issues of mutual interest and underlined the need for collective approaches to the world affairs.
External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing at their meeting here stressed the need for strengthening cooperation among the three countries for collective approaches to the world affairs.
Noting that India, Russia and China were "major countries," Singh said: "We share a certain vision about how the world should look like."
Lavrov said the trilateral forum was "useful for assessment" of developments of the world and the role the three countries are playing.
"It provides a forum for exchanging views on how to deepen our cooperation and strengthen collective approaches to world affairs," he said.
Li, while pointing out that it was an "unofficial but important forum," said "we are meeting at a time when the world is undergoing profound changes. Let us work together to promote peace and development."
Earlier Singh, who is on a two-day visit here, held talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev during which they explored the possibilities for developing cooperation in a host of fields, including energy sector.
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