China recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, known in India as the Panchsheel Agreement, which was first signed with India. Despite Chinese President Xi Jinping's praises for Panchsheel, this commemoration exposed China's hypocrisy, given its historical and ongoing violations of these principles.
The Panchsheel Agreement, a key element of former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's vision for a harmonious global order, was originally signed in 1954. However, China's subsequent actions, notably the 1962 war against India, have starkly contradicted the agreement's principles. Observers suggest that China's current emphasis on Panchsheel is a strategic move to bolster its influence in the Global South.
Unlike the 60th anniversary celebrations in 2014, India officially abstained from the recent ceremony. National strategy experts highlighted the irony in China's commemoration, noting that the country has repeatedly violated Panchsheel's principles. The first principle, mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, has been blatantly disregarded by China since the agreement's inception.
Experts also emphasized that China's actions, such as its territorial claims and military build-up along the Indian border, continue to breach Panchsheel principles. The Panchsheel Agreement itself, signed on April 29, 1954, has been criticized in India since its inception. Notable figures, including Congress leader Acharya Kriplani, condemned the agreement for undermining Tibet's independence and setting the stage for future conflicts.
Geostrategist Brahma Chellaney and other experts have pointed out the historical and ongoing violations of Panchsheel by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent remarks on the agreement, positioning it as a model for resolving global conflicts, were seen as part of a broader strategy to enhance China's global standing.
Despite Xi's assertions, experts like Brahma Chellaney and former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal have called out China's duplicity. Sibal noted the appropriateness of India's decision to skip the Beijing celebrations, arguing that participation would have implied endorsement of China's adherence to Panchsheel principles, contrary to its actual conduct.
China's renewed focus on Panchsheel is perceived as a strategic maneuver, linked to broader initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Security Initiative. However, this move is widely regarded as a facade, given China's persistent violations of the Panchsheel principles in its relations with neighboring countries.
In essence, China's celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Panchsheel Agreement has been criticized as a superficial gesture, highlighting the country's ongoing disregard for the very principles it claims to honor.
