China, unlike India, has no time to waste on such puerile slogans as ‘national sovereignty’. Beijing recognises the importance of managing its relationship with the US and preventing a premature confrontation. If that involves some domestic compromises, then so be it.

In contrast, the UPA government appears bereft of any strategy as it lets the big moment in its bilateral relations with the US drift away.

African arms

China has denied allegations from Amnesty International that it was selling arms to Sudan in violation of the UN embargo. The Chinese denial focused more on the charge of illegality rather than the fact of arms sales. A spokesperson said Beijing “has always maintained a responsible approach to arms sales, dealing with sovereign states, rather than individuals or organisations”.

Beijing’s arms sales exploit a grey area in the resolution, which may technically allow Khartoum to buy weapons as long as they are not used in Darfur.

India should be assessing the scale and scope of Beijing’s growing military relationship with Africa. According to Amnesty, Beijing has provided at least six K-8 jet trainer aircrafts that could also be used for ground attack missions. Beijing is also reportedly getting ready to deliver another six shortly to Khartoum.

Military diplomacy

UNDER a 1999 agreement, China and Egypt decided to produce 80 of the K-8 aircrafts in Egypt and in 2004 a further 40. China is also jointly producing a version of the K-8 aircraft in Pakistan. The other countries that have reportedly received the K-8 include Myanmar, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

... contd.