Peaceful co-existence remains the cornerstone of India's foreign policy. Comment.(UPSC CSE Mains 2022 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are principles first mentioned in the Sino-Indian Agreement, 1954 and publicly formulated by Zhou Enlai.
- These principles would later become the basis of the Non-Aligned Movement.
- The Panchsheel Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Premier Zhou Enlai.
- These principles, also known as Panchsheel, are listed as
- Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,
- Mutual non-aggression,
- Mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs,
- Equality and cooperation for mutual benefit, and
- Peaceful co-existence.
- Accordingly, India believes that countries are obliged to resolve their disputes peacefully and refrain from unauthorised intervention in a state''s internal affairs.
- India''s proactive engagements in global multilateral institutions, particularly in the United Nations, exemplify this worldview. India views the UN as an instrument for the peaceful settlement of disputes. India''s approach towards the Russia-Ukraine war is a recent case in point. From the start of the conflict, India has stood firmly in advocating a peaceful resolution.
- India''s aversion towards military alliances is another example of its embrace of the principle of peaceful coexistence. India was never part of a military alliance or coalition. India''s current foreign policy approach – multi-alignment, which entails reaching out to various power centres and institutions, underlines this approach. In short, peaceful coexistence allows India to develop closer strategic and economic cooperation with its friends and strategic competitors.
- However, it is also important to note that in the regional context, India''s neighbours often have placed geopolitical calculations above the principles of peaceful coexistence, which has forced India to revisit its approach.
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