However, in spite of India’s concerns on some of the Chinese policies affecting India, the bilateral economic relations have moved at a very fast pace, though at the cost of Indian market. The cheap Chinese goods have adversely impacted on Indian small-scale manufacturing sector, while restricting Indian pharmaceutical and software exports to China.

Amidst the race among big powers to get closer to the new Narendra Modi-led NDA Government in India, China tried to steal the show by dispatching its Foreign Minister Wang Yi as the Special Envoy of the President Xi Jinping to New Delhi on June 8-9. The special gesture from China, who in recent times has been very aggressive in relations with its maritime and land neighbours, surprised the strategic circles and the Indian External Affairs Ministry went out of the way to extend a warm welcome to him.

The Chinese Foreign Minister had extensive discussions with the Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the first day of his visit and he stayed in Delhi for the next day to hand over the special message of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and later met President Pranab Mukherjee.

This was the first substantive engagement between the two foreign ministers at the first available opportunity as the new Modi Government in India had just taken over. And well before the Americans or the Japanese or the Russians leaders could drop in the Chinese Foreign Minister set his foot on Indian soil. But the two sides still seem to be on the level of knowing and understanding each other. There was no major announcement on how to reduce or remove the trust deficit between the two countries but the Chinese Foreign Minister did indicate before his departure to Beijing that both the countries are on the anvil of signing a liberalised visa regime which will improve people-to-people relations.

Perhaps this was the first step in the new thousand-mile journey, as stated by the Indian spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs quoting a Chinese proverb. Undoubtedly, the two countries have to travel a long distance, which is fraught with many dangers.

Indian believes that engagement with the neighbours is the best way to reduce areas of differences while at the same time developing normal economic and people-to-people relations. But strategic observers feel that India has always been on the receiving side.

According to Shashank, India’s former Foreign Secretary, China is keen on improving bilateral trade and investment relations and they are also interested in establishing industrial parks, but while indulging in economic cooperation we should not lose sight of new strategic imperatives, and we have to be careful.

In view of the continuing spat between Japan and China on the territorial claims over Senkaku or Diayou islands and the Americans announcing a new Rebalancing Asia policy earlier known as the Pivot to Asia policy, Chinese moves to woo India and India’s reciprocal moves are being closely watched by the international community. Interestingly India has been indirectly warning China on its unilateral territorial claims over the large portion of the South China Sea and has been repeatedly issuing statements regarding the need to respect the international law of the sea and freedom of navigation in the oceans.

According to Chintamani Mahapatra, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), it is very significant that the Chinese government had been more proactive in improving ties with India. China made it a point to send Foreign Minister to India even before US had started talking to India. It is significant that even before Obama invited Modi, the Indian Prime Minister invited Chinese President to India. Referring to Modi Government’s priorities Mahapatra observed, it looks like new government is going to focus on immediate neighbourhood to improve difficult but strategic relations with China. The Modi Government is giving priority to manage this kind of relationship. It is quiet likely Modi may visit China and try to sort out different issues between China and India.

The Modi Government’s expectations from the Chinese Government was very well articulated by Sushma Swaraj, when she reminded Wang Yi of China’s assertion of One China Policy and India’s desire to obtain similar expressions of intent by China for One India Policy. However, the Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman was evasive in his replies when asked about a number of issues which cast shadow on India-China relations. The spokesman merely stated that all issues of mutual interest were discussed. Though, India has a long list of complaints against China which results in generating negative mindsets among Indian people and leaders. This in turn leads to the widening of trust deficit between the two countries.

The dilly-dallying attitude of Chinese leadership on the early resolution of boundary issue accompanied by continuing incidents of incursions and transgressions on the 4,000-kmlong line of actual control (LAC) irks Indian people and a democratic government in India cannot afford to be ignoring them. The practice adopted by Chinese government to issue Staple Visa for the residents of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir has cast a shadow on Chinese intentions, though Wang Yi clarified that Staple Visa for the Arunachal residents was a goodwill gesture.

Though the Chinese officials have stopped issuing Staple Visa for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir the Chinese Government has never announced and acknowledged them publicly. The heavy imbalance in bilateral trade of $65.47 billion in 2013 is also a matter of serious concern for India. China also hesitates in committing support for Indian claim for permanent membership to the United Nations Security Council. The Chinese objections to India’s right to be recognised as the nuclear state at par with the other declared nuclear powers and the Chinese objections to Indian membership to the various nuclear bodies like the Nuclear Suppliers Group also irritates India.

The Chinese also provide nuclear and ballistic missile technology to Pakistan, it is an all-weather friend, at the cost of India. The kind of military support Pakistan gets from China puts strategic pressures on India. The Chinese have also initiated building huge road and rail network via the territory under Pakistani control of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, ignoring India’s sensitivities. On the other hand, China objects to Indian economic activities in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam in the South China Sea.

However, in spite of India’s concerns on some of the Chinese policies affecting India, the bilateral economic relations have moved at a very fast pace, though at the cost of Indian market. The cheap Chinese goods have adversely impacted on Indian small-scale manufacturing sector, while restricting Indian pharmaceutical and software exports to China. The Chinese Foreign Minister promised to look into ways to reduce the huge trade deficit.

Promises apart, India does not feel comfortable either in political or economic or strategic arena in its relations with China. Only solace is that 4,000-km-long undemarcated border remains largely peaceful and stable, which gives space for the two countries to maintain warmth in bilateral relations and also work together in multilateral forums like BRICS, climate change issues, etc.