second round, admittedly difficult, to a successful conclusion.

It is no secret that the Chinese side is seeking major concessions in the eastern sector of the boundary, especially on the Tawang tract in Arunachal Pradesh. India, of course, is not ready to part with Tawang. As talks between Dai and Narayanan meandered, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took up the issue directly with the visiting President Hu Jintao last November. The two leaders agreed that the negotiations must be imparted a fresh momentum and purpose.

Consequently Dai came to New Delhi within a few weeks after Hu’s departure. At the ninth round of talks, both sides had put new ideas on the table. The current difficulty in the negotiations stems less from the fact that they are far apart, but that they are focused on different elements. India’s new proposals were aimed at creating a “soft border” between Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet and restoring the historic contacts between the people across the dividing line. The Chinese emphasis, instead, was on getting a fix on the extent of territorial concessions in Arunachal Pradesh.

For all their toughness, the Chinese proposals must be seen as an opening bid on territorial redisposition, rather than an inflexible stand. The UPA government has certainly not ruled out the prospect of territorial adjustment in Arunachal Pradesh; but it is held back by fear and self-doubt to go down that road.

That the current round is taking place so soon after the ninth last January is the good news. If the UPA does not demonstrate the resolve to negotiate on territorial adjustments in this round, the bad news could well be that Beijing would choose to wait for the BJP to regain power in New Delhi.

... contd.