ISAS Insights

China’s new leader Xi Jinping has called for steps to “deepen” “military and security trust” in Sino-Indian relations. In his first meeting with India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Durban on 27 March 2013, the Chinese President struck a cordial and upbeat note. Reciprocating these sentiments, Dr Singh suggested that a “joint mechanism” be set up to protect the rights of lower riparian India in the context of China’s ongoing efforts to harness waters of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra). The economic logic of such a ‘mechanism’, if set up, will supplement the political logic of the existing forum of Special Representatives who are trying to settle the Sino-Indian border dispute. In addition, India and China are already engaged in overall economic dialogue. In panoramic strategic terms, therefore, a potential Sino-Indian agenda focused on economic and military concerns can help address full-scope security issues. Full-scope security, as a term being conceived in political diplomacy, is adapted from the idea of full-scope safeguards in civil-nuclear diplomacy.