In face of critics, China wants non-pro order to remain strong

JYOTI MALHOTRA

New Delhi, August 31, 2007 : China is closely watching the ``very fierce’’ debate within India over the Indo-US nuclear deal, but has so far taken a very cautious view on the matter, largely because of its complicated nature, China’s ambassador to India Sun Yuxi said here today.

Speaking to a group of journalists at the Indian Women’s Press Corps in the capital, Ambassador Sun said : ``China does not want the Indo-US nuclear deal to weaken the non-proliferation regime, that is our concern.’’

That is why, he added, the Chinese government had so far not reacted formally on the deal, but preferred to take a ``very cautious position’’ on it.

Speaking for the first time since the 123 agreement became public, the Chinese envoy frankly admitted he was sometimes taken aback at the references to China being a factor in the domestic opposition to the nuclear deal, but said he ``understood’’ the Indian media’s reactions.

``No,’’ he said, ``I am not hurt by the Indian media’s comments (on China backing the Left parties), but I understand it. Perhaps the western media perception still stands in the way of our two countries understanding each other.’’

Clearly, as the Indian media factors in China in the domestic debate currently raging over the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Chinese government looks like it wants to reach out and dispel the impression that it is seeking to limit India’s growing power.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, in a highly unusual gesture last week, gave the departing PTI correspondent from China an unscheduled interview, where he spoke at length about the potential and reality of Asia’s greatest civilizations, India and China.

Ambassador Sun spoke in much the same tone in today’s interaction with journalists, telling the story about the time Prime Minister Wen told him to report back as often as possible, ``about what we can learn from India.’’

The Chinese ambassador said he was sending reports about every conceivable aspect of Indian life back home to Beijing, precisely because there was so much to learn from this country.

In a lighter vein, Ambassador Sun pointed out that India and the US were always talking about the fact that they are the largest and oldest democracies in the world, but China was hardly lagging behind.

``Both of you, India and the US, say that you are democracies. We think we are also a democracy, only with a different style. Both in quantity and quality, China has a very good relationship with the US,’’ he said spiritedly.

``In fact, there are more American companies in China than Indian. We eat more Macdonalds hamburgers and wear more blue jeans,’’ the Chinese ambassador added.

ENDS