The significance of Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan's recent visit to India stems from the fact that these two neighbours possess the largest militaries, economies and populations in Asia. Therefore harmonious relations between India and China naturally contribute to regional stability.

The visit also symbolises the changes that have taken place in India-China relations in the post-Cold War period — from the correct to the cordial. This is a reciprocal visit since Defence Minister George Fernandes went to China last year. The handshake across the Himalayas started with late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Beijing in December 1988 and his historic meeting with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. During the Cold War era the former Soviet Union was an important irritant in ties between the two neighbours but once a rapprochement between Beijing and Moscow took shape in the late 1980s, it positively impacted on New Delhi-Beijing relations. Thereafter the Indian National Defence College members, who are senior civil and military officers, visited China on a regional study tour in 1990 and set the pace for military diplomacy between the two countries. Subsequently military personnel from either country have exchanged many visits with the high point being goodwill visits by warships and the naval exercises held last year. The military dimension has kept pace with the economic element in India-China relations.

Military diplomacy helps to avert crisis situations like the1986-87 Sumdorung Chu incident when Chinese troops occupied Indian positions vacated during the winter months. The incident emphasised the need to ensure effective political channels of communications between the two sides. Eventually Rajiv Gandhi met with Deng Xiaoping and since then except for minor intrusions now and then by border patrol parties due to inclement weather there have been no serious territorial violations.

The Chinese Defence Minister's visit promises the potential for greater interaction between military officers of both countries through exchange programmes. This could change the Indian military leadership's perception of the Chinese military. Does Cao Gangchuan' s visit to the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bangalore imply that in this era of globalisation there could be cooperation between India and China on defence technology?