CHINA-INDIA: CHINESE STATE COUNCILLOR DAI BINGGUO'S BOOK 'STRATEGIC DIALOGUES'
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Dai Bingguo, China's Special Representative (SR) in the over 15 rounds of boundary talks with four Indian Special Representatives (SR) between 2003 and his retirement in 2013, published his book 'Strategic Dialogues' in Beijing in late April (in Mandarin). The book reveals: Vajpayee and his National Security Advisor (NSA) Brajesh Mishra were in 2003 keen for "an early settlement" and believed it possible after the 2004 elections, but the NDA lost;
China saw the prospects of a solution recede sharply in 2004 with a "weak" UPA government at the Centre. Achieving a solution with a Congress government is, in China's eyes, less likely because of its 'historical baggage' over the boundary dispute;
A status quo solution was ruled out by both sides. A final resolution will involve both India and China making "mutual adjustments"-China giving up some territory in Aksai Chin and India in Arunachal Pradesh in the east.
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