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ShareChinese concerns about India's defence programme, which again manifested themselves after India unveiled its indigenously built nuclear-powered submarine, reflect China's "lack of self-confidence" and "small heart", says Prof Shen Dingli, executive vice-dean of the Institute of International Affairs at Fudan University, Shanghai.
In an interview with DNA's Venkatesan Vembu, China's foremost authority on nuclear issues offers a radical suggestion for India and China to overcome their distrust of each other's nuclear programmes. Excerpts:
How significant for China is India's nuclear-powered submarine programme?
India and China share the same interest: to make the region and the world safe. China's and India's development of nuclear weapons are for that purpose. I see no threat to China from India's nuclear submarine.
Defence analysts say India has acquired parity with China.
They are wrong. China's development of nuclear weapons is not directed at India but to defend China's security and promote peace in the region and the world. India should welcome China's nuclear development -- and China should welcome India's nuclear weapons development.
Pakistan says India's move will trigger a nuclear arms race.
If Pakistan also acquires the capability, we will welcome it.
Chinese media and military strategists too have voiced concern.
It's an unnecessary concern. We have had our nuclear submarine for long. Is our nuclear submarine intended to threaten India? Such rhetoric in the Chinese media is wrong. China should have an open heart. Why should China think that its nuclear weapons will bring world peace whereas India's will threaten the world?
There are concerns in India about China's strategic interest in South Asia.
China's strategy is to preserve peace in China and in its neighbourhood. China hopes India and Pakistan and all players in South Asia will remain peaceful... India, too, can persuade China through its actions that it does not threaten China...
Has India not conveyed those signals?
India has, but it has not succeeded in persuading China. Likewise, China, too, hasn't succeeded. To build mutual trust, China should invite Indian defence personnel to sit and sleep in the Chinese military and nuclear establishments to watch what we are doing. And the Indian defence establishment should invite the Chinese to sleep inside India's nuclear establishment to show it has a transparent policy.
Indian defence analysts believe China is preparing for war with India by 2012.
This is complete nonsense. Some newspapers and people in India have a negative view on China. But when such views are projected, we in China should be self-critical about why, despite our best efforts to improve relations with India, such fears remain.
Earlier this month, the Chinese newspaper Global Times said India's military moves were "unwise"...
Such views reflect low political wisdom. Don't take these things seriously.
Does China have lingering concerns about the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal?
Some Chinese government officials have lingering concern. That reflects China's "small heart" and lack of self-confidence: we want ourselves to be great, but we don't want India to be great. We are a nuclear weapons state. India was not for long. We should feel more secure, rather than insecure.
