By Dr. Sawraj Singh
The 60th anniversary of the signing of the Panch Sheel agreement between India and China (and also Burma) has just passed. The Chinese media gave it great coverage. However, it got a very subdued response from the Indian media. This was exactly opposite to the 50th anniversary of the Indo-China war in 2012; the Indian media gave it a very, very big response whereas in the Chinese media, it got a very restrained response. I am sure the Chinese would have liked to see Indian President or Prime Minister participate in the celebrations. However, India sent the Vice President. The Indian Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj, chose to be in Bangladesh instead.
It is easy to understand India’s less than enthusiastic response to the Panch Sheel because many Indians feel that China attacked India in 1962 after having signed the agreement in 1954. However, Indian anger toward China should not lead it to question the timeless wisdom of the principles of the Panch Sheel. We should also remember that these principles are basically derived from the philosophy of Buddhism. Universality of these principles was validated when a few days after the signing of the agreement, they were adopted by the Asian Prime Ministers’ Conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1954. Again, these five principles were expanded to ten points in the Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955. Also, these five principles formed the basis of the Non-Aligned Movement.
The five principles are:
1. Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
2. Mutual non-aggression.
3. Mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
4. Equality and cooperation for mutual benefit.
5. Peaceful coexistence.
It is clear that these principles are timeless and universal as far as a code of conduct between countries, as well as to maintain world peace. We should also remember that because of these principles, India received tremendous respect as a leader of the Non-Alignment Movement in the world.
The bitterness of the past should not cloud our judgment. Moreover, instead of brooding over the past, we should focus on the present and future. We should also try to remember that whenever there is a conflict between two parties, then it is natural for one party to blame the other. However, an impartial third party is more likely to be closer to the truth than the two parties themselves. In this context, we should try to remember that the Chinese side offered to refer the matter to an impartial third party for judgment, whereas the Indian side refused such suggestions. Also, impartial observers such as Neville Maxwell and Bertrand Russell, who thoroughly studied the problem, do not agree with India’s version and are more appreciative of China’s stand.
Neville Maxwell, who was the correspondent of the Times London in Delhi at that time, has probably done the most extensive research on this subject in the whole world. He has authored the book India’s China War. He seems to conclude that the main cause of the 1962 war was America’s pressure on India to fight China. India was forced into this war by American policies. Bertrand Russell was very appreciative of the Chinese conduct in this war. Bertrand Russell, who is related to the Royal Family of England, was known for his independent and unprejudiced opinions.
If we let the past go and concentrate on the present and future, then one thing becomes quite clear: the biggest threat to the stability, security, and peace of the world comes from American hegemony. America is violating each of the five principles of the Panch Sheel to maintain its control and hegemony. In the process, it has practically destroyed one country after the other. Just look at a few of these countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Somalia. Ukraine may become the first European country to be completely destroyed after the Second World War. America is not leaving Russia with any other choice other than a massive and crippling attack on Ukraine. America is actively engaged in containing Russia in Europe and China in Asia. Any country which joins the American endeavor risks massive retaliation from Russia or China. It may not be an exaggeration to say that joining in the efforts to contain Russia or China can prove to be a suicidal act. Unfortunately, the Indian media has so far been either unwilling to understand, or has been misled to ignore the obvious that America wants to incite India against China. The media has also been unable to educate the people about the risks of this policy.
India has either not understood completely or has been unable to accept the fact that the main trends in the world are the decline of the West and the rise of the East. Therefore, America’s power and influence are declining, whereas Chinese power and influence are growing. America no longer has the power to control and impose its will on the world. We saw this clearly in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, America has so far been unable to get rid of Assad. In Iraq, America is willing to let its arch-rival in the Middle East, Iran, come into Iraq and fight ISIS.
The Panch Sheel Principles need to be revived because not only can they help to preserve world peace in the face of the aggressive and hegemonic America, but they can also help India and China to maintain cordial relations. Such cordial relations can benefit both countries to gain respectable and sustainable economic growth while the West is facing economic stagnation and crisis. Panch Sheel can help India to forget is bitter past and move toward the opportunities of the present and to a bright future. Friendly relations between India and China are not only conducive to regional peace and stability, but also for maintaining peace and order in the world. India and China can help to make the transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world peaceful and harmonious.
Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is the Chairman of the Washington State Network for Human Rights and Chairman of the Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice. He can be reached at [email protected].
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