India, China should compete, but avoid conflict, says defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said mutual recognition of sensitivity in each country should be respected and resolved through dialogues.

Updated on: Nov 12, 2018, 24:16:49 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar, GUWAHATI

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Stressing on the importance of both countries in global affairs, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday stated both India and China should compete, but avoid conflict.

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks during a press conference at Yelahanka airforce station in Bengaluru. (PTI File Photo)

“We need to compete, but it should never end up in conflict,” Sitharaman said at Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar while delivering a talk on ‘Towards Bridging the Indo-China Relationship for an Emerging Asia’ as part of the 7th Late Rutum Kango Memorial Lecture.

The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principle of five ‘S’s—‘Samman’ (Respect), ‘Samvad’ (Dialogue), ‘Sahyog’ (Cooperation) and ‘Shanti’ (Peace) can usher ‘Samriddhi’ (Prosperity) for the two Asian giants. Sitharaman added that India and China were both ley-players who are at the centre stage of all global developments and issues and since relations between the two have direct and indomitable impact on everything global, therefore it (the relationship) will have to be good.

“Today we both can’t deny each other’s significance and dominance, especially in Asia and South East Asia. Need of the hour is to cooperate with each other, resolve issues through dialogue and progress together,” she said.

The Union minister further highlighted that through dialogues and meetings at the highest levels, a mechanism has been put in place to resolve all issues in the nip and advocated confidence and trust building measures at all levels.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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