Beyond the CHOGM ‘snub’

However much it is disguised, India has effectively snubbed Australia over its invitation to attend the Commonwealth Head of Governments meeting in Perth later this month by sending a delegation headed by Mr Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India. A meet which will be attended by the heads of over 50 Commonwealth countries and is to be opened by the Queen herself, is akin to sending a local district cricket team to play in a Test match against Australia in Sydney. The Indian Prime Minister’s decision not to attend was made clear over 10 weeks ago, and can be clearly construed as a sign of discontent within the Indian government over Australia’s reluctance to sell uranium to India.

The current Labor party will not sell uranium to India because of certain conditions. Firstly, the doctrine of the Labor party refuses to accept uranium sales to countries which are not signatories to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (NTBT). A change to this decision has to go through the party itself and there seems to be limited urgency to make this happen. Currently the government is in a precarious position both at the polls and the various controversies surrounding it, such as poker reforms, the carbon tax, asylum seekers policy confusion etc. They need another controversial issue like the

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

sale of uranium to a non signatory to NTBT country like a hole in the head! Even if there are rumblings within the government to allow this to happen, the Greens have made their stand clear on the uranium export issue, not only to India, but to any other country. It will be difficult to see this sale gain the traction it needs, considering the Greens’ close hold over the government. So, despite persuasive arguments by Indian diplomats in Australia and mainstream as well as Indian origin writers, it is hard to see the ruling Labor party in Australia moving on this issue for a while.

Meanwhile, the world moves on and India needs to build its allies strategically with a long-term view. The country is already losing its soft diplomacy to China in South East Asia, and has not been able to counter the influence China exerts in countries in the Indian Ocean. Well-known political analyst Christopher Pearson has said, “The ‘String of Pearls’ describes the manifestation of China’s rising geopolitical influence through efforts to increase access to ports and airfields, develop special diplomatic relationships and modernize military forces that extend from the South China Sea through the Strait of Malacca, across the Indian Ocean, and on to the Persian Gulf.” The term ‘String of Pearls’ was used in an internal United States Department of Defence report titled, ‘Energy Futures in Asia’.

It is of strategic interest for India, Australia and South Africa to look at a means of checking this growing influence of China in the region surrounding it. The USA understands and recognises the play of the dragon; India is also aware of the Chinese cooperation with Pakistan on a number of issues to tame the Indian tiger in its own backyard. Now is the time for India to work with its friends on issues which can have a long term impact in the political scenario within Asia.

Australia will sell uranium to India; it is just a matter of time. Meanwhile, ensuring that relationships are maintained at the highest levels is important. A short flight from India to Perth by the Indian Prime Minister for an international summit would have helped progress international cooperation between the two countries. At times, it is important to take a short-term loss for a long-term gain.