China's Peaceful Rise and Sino-Indian Relations

Abstract

China and India rank among the world's largest developing nations, fastest growing economies, most populous states, and greatest ancient civilisations. But most importantly, they are among the foremost rising powers in Asia. In the past quarter of century, both China and India's productive forces and overall national strength have been constantly enhanced, which are now widely perceived as ‘the rise of China’ 1 and ‘the emerging India’ (see, for example Cohen 2001; Ma 2002). The rise of China has to be grasped not only in terms of the past (when the Chinese people stood up, became enriched and strengthened under the first, second and third generation of leaders, respectively), but also in terms of the present and future (of a ‘peaceful rise’ under the new generations of leaders and in the wake of globalisation). Fifty years ago, Beijing and New Delhi jointly proposed ‘Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence’ (known as Panchsheel in India) to guide bilateral relations between the two newly independent countries. However, the Sino-Indian relationship has experienced an up-and-down process since then, and the resolution of bilateral issues and the establishment of mutual trust still have a long way to go. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to reiterate and materialise Panchsheel, especially in the context of the simultaneous rise of China and India in Asia.