‘This is a lot more than I can say on television,’ said Harding, looking up from his notes.
‘The Foreign Secretary didn’t instruct me to write your script,’ retorted Stopping. ‘Only to explain to you the backdrop of the conflict. And the nub is this. China was not concerned about the geographical boundaries. As I said, the territory itself is worthless and inhospitable. It wanted India to abandon its recognition of the McMahon Line, which implicitly meant it accepted the sovereign authority of Tibet. There’s been a lull since the ’62 war, but the issues are still there.’ He ran his hand along the border. ‘Along this stretch, China claims this disputed area in Kashmir, and ten thousand square miles from the Karakorum pass. It also claims Arunachal Pradesh and does not recognize Sikkim as part of India.’
‘One hell of a lot of areas of dispute between two nuclear powers,’ remarked Harding.
‘That is exactly the point the Foreign Secretary wanted you to understand.’
Foreign Ministry Building, Hong Kong, China
Jamie Song chose to be interviewed in Hong Kong because it represented the modern liberal face of China. Like Tibet, Hong Kong was an autonomous region and an example to the world. If you don’t fight the motherland, she will give you all you want.
The spotlight was harsh in Jamie Song’s eyes. He asked them to change its angle so that he could look straight at the camera without squinting. He had already changed from a swivel office chair to a straight back, so he would not move inadvertently while in shot. He made sure the sound technician clipped the microphone on the outside of his tie, instead of concealing it underneath, to lower the risk of rustling and interference. He held notes in case the cameramen were asked to do cut-aways to his hand. With nothing to hold, he could appear tense and nervous. With ten seconds to air-time he brushed the lapels of his suit, specially chosen because it was hand-made in Hong Kong. He listened to the opening music and then to Harding’s introduction.
Harding: In this BBC Globe Talk exclusive, we have the Chinese Foreign Minister, Jamie Song, live from Hong Kong, and with me in the studio is General Sir Peter Hanman, a military consultant with the Institute of Strategic Studies in London. We will be discussing the tension between India and China.
After the dramatic prison break-out in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, by the little-known Indian regiment, the Special Frontier Force, India has said sorry. China hasn’t accepted the apology and, as you’ll see on the map on your screens now, thousands of Chinese troops are pouring into these sensitive border areas with China. Europe and America have appealed for calm. China and India — and this is one thing they seem to agree on — say it’s nobody else’s business but their own.
The other complications in this alarming turn of events is that the revered Buddhist monk Lhundrup Togden who was freed from prison in the raid is still at large and believed to be heading for India. Fighting has also flared up again between India and Pakistan in Kashmir. Both are nuclear powers and Pakistan has just been shaken by a military takeover. Jamie Song in Hong Kong, before we start taking calls from our viewers, can you set our minds at rest that China is not trying to stir things up in Asia?
Song: Not at all, Max. Your excellent précis of events sums up the situation. Perhaps, though, I can make a comparison closer to home for Europeans. Suppose renegade troops in the Republic of Ireland burst across the border into British territory in the North and released convicted terrorists from the Maze prison.
Harding: I think you’re stretching the imagination…
Song: Am I? Many people in Northern Ireland, Ireland and the rest of the world believe Ulster should be part of Ireland — as many believe Tibet should have its independence from China. But the hard facts are that Tibet is part of China and Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom. I dare say there are those within the Irish armed forces who sympathize with the Republican cause, and in my scenario they act on their sympathies, just as India claims commandos in the Special Frontier Force have done. What would the UK then do? Would it simply accept an apology from the Irish government and continue with business as usual? Or would it put the apology on hold, try to find out exactly what happened and in the interim reinforce the border to ensure that nothing like it could possibly happen again?
Harding: General Hanman. Let me bring you in here. You served many years in Northern Ireland.
Hanman: I can’t speak for the government, of course. But in the Foreign Minister’s scenario, we in the armed forces would certainly urge the government to do what Jamie Song suggests — reinforce the border.
Harding: All right, we have our first caller, who happens to be in Hong Kong. Go ahead.
Hong Kong: Yes. I want to ask Jamie Song. I have two questions. Firstly, did you know that India kept a commando force of Tibetan nationalists specially trained to fight against Chinese troops in Tibet? And number two. Isn’t it time China took the opportunity from this incident to reclaim back the land across the border which is now occupied by India?
Harding: Foreign Minister?
Song: I personally was not aware of the Special Frontier Force, but I am a businessman and diplomat. Of course, I am fully briefed now. China had repeatedly asked India to disband the unit and had pointed out the dangers. India refused until—
Harding: Excuse me for interrupting, Foreign Minister, but can you confirm that, Sir Peter? India ignored Chinese appeals?
Hanman: That is my understanding. But Prime Minister Dixit acted with exceptional swiftness once he discovered what had happened. I don’t think China could have asked for more.
Harding: Jamie Song. Your second question. Should China now reclaim land you say is occupied by India?
Song: We are very pragmatic about this. The territory under dispute is not prime real estate in Manhattan or Mayfair. Nor is it valuable like the oil fields of the Middle East. It is a pretty grim and inhospitable part of the world. The main issue here is Tibet. If India opened negotiations for a new border agreement and made an unequivocal statement that it would not support Tibetan independence, we would have absolutely nothing to quarrel about.
Harding: By that you mean India would have to expel the Dalai Lama?
Song: Yes. The Dalai Lama can live out his days in Europe or America. But not on our borders.
Harding: We have a caller from Delhi. A former admiral, I believe. Go ahead, New Delhi.
Delhi: Yes. I am Admiral Ravi Jacob retired. I understand China is moving naval vessels into the Indian Ocean. Could the Foreign Minister confirm this?
Harding: This is in reference to intelligence reports that two Kilo-class submarines have passed through the Straits of Malacca into the Indian Ocean. The closest Indian territory is the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and New Delhi plans to protest to the United Nations.