China casts itself as a responsible power in a new era

AS WORLD attention focused on the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, India all of a sudden moved to strip the special region of Jammu and Kashmir of the autonomy guaranteed to it in the country's Constitution since independence in 1947. That triggered a predictable protest from Pakistan, which claims the region as its own, and which has fought three wars with India.

The conflict over Kashmir has lasted for more than seven decades and is one of the critical danger spots in the region, involving two nuclear powers.

Beijing has sought to maintain peace between India and Pakistan, both neighbours of China. Pakistan is an "all-weather" friend and China has been working hard at improving relations with India.