BEIJING (The Hindu) -- India and China on Thursday concluded a two-day defense dialogue, exploring new ways their militaries could further confidence in the backdrop of recent border tensions.

Officials said the talks saw “positive progress” with both sides discussing new confidence building measures (CBMs) and a joint military exercise, which is to be held later this year.
Defense Secretary Pradeep Kumar held talks with People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Deputy Chief of General Staff Ma Xiaotian on Wednesday, and met with Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on Thursday.
Mr. Kumar told his Chinese interlocutors New Delhi was willing to work with Beijing to strengthen mutual trust and “increase consensus,” as well as expand co-operation on security issues. He said the two countries would push forward military exchanges “on the basis of mutual respect and trust.”
Chance for clarification
Mr. Ma said the talks gave both sides a chance to “clarify concerns, deepen mutual trust and coordinate stances.”
Officials familiar with the talks said regional security issues, including the recent tensions along the disputed border and the two countries’ naval strategies, were on the agenda.
This week’s meeting was the third round of the annual bilateral Sino-Indian Defense Dialogue. It was viewed by both officials and strategic analysts in both countries with particular significance.
The talks come after a period of strained relations between the two neighbors, with a number of media reports in India suggesting increased incursions by Chinese troops along the disputed border. Mr. Kumar’s is also the first ever visit by an Indian Defense Secretary to China.
In Thursday’s talks, Mr. Liang called on both governments to do more to “exert a positive impact on media and public opinion,” to improve the strained atmosphere, State-run Xinhua news agency reported.
It is understood that the two sides discussed the recent tensions and stressed the need to maintain the existing CBMs, such as local-level Brigadier meetings and regular exchanges along the Line of Actual Control, effective demarcation along the border.
Both sides also agreed to increase the frequency of exchanges to improve transparency and reduce mistrust. Last year saw both nations intensifying efforts to improve military communication. PLA General Wu Quanxu visited India’s Eastern Command and an Indian Army delegation visited Tibet and the PLA base in Chengdu.
The first round of the annual defense dialogue was held in December 2007, when the two militaries also conducted a joint exercise at Yunnan in China’s southwest.
The second round was held in Belgaum, Karnataka.
The timing of this round has placed added significance on this week’s talks, analysts said. “There is a substantial difference because both civil and military leaderships realize the continuing uncertainty on the border is not in the interests of both countries,” said Srikanth Kondapalli, chairman of the Centre for East Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. “They have now renewed efforts to push the CBMs forward.”
Strategic analysts in China viewed the dialogue as an opportunity for both nations to turn the corner. “The current situation is not very bright, and we have seen negative trends, especially in the media of both countries,” said Zhao Gancheng, director of South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies. “In this context, this kind of defense dialogue, and a push to increase exchanges, is a positive development that will increase mutual understanding.”
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