China is a South Asian country, sharing borders with 14 countries including India. Its significance lies in its rise in the region and hegemonic influence over smaller countries through loans and the Belt and Road Initiative. China and India have fought a major war in the 60s and have disputes over the Aksai Chin and LAC, and tensions over the Indo-Pacific.
To the limited extent an envoy can help shape – not simply implement – his country’s foreign policy, the Chinese Ambassador is doing his best to bring sunshine to an overcast sky. He had made a suggestion that the CPEC could be renamed, to address Indian sensitivities, offered that India and China sign a Treaty of Peace and Good Neighbourly Relations. He recently said that the three leaders could meet informally, which we felt went against our stated position that India and Pakistan would resolve their issues bilaterally but may have been a well intentioned stray thought to help break ice that seems impervious to an Arctic ship designed for that purpose. When he completes his tenure, may he leave the bilateral relationship in better shape than he inherited it.