Analysis: S S Menon will bring China focus in foreign policy

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to appoint Shiv Shankar Menon as the next foreign secretary is an attractive turn in his approach to India's foreign policy. With his government under fire for its focus on boosting Indo-US relationship, the prime minister has taken a bold step in superseding more than a dozen serving diplomats to pick Menon for the most coveted diplomatic post in New Delhi. He has also sent out the message that he is bringing someone into his core team who can put India-China relations on a stable course.

If this century is Asia's century, then at its dawn Dr Singh is paving the way for deeper relations with China.

It's interesting that Menon, an accomplished diplomat who is currently India's High Commissioner to Pakistan, has never served in the United States.

Menon is known to be thoroughly professional, predictable and dependable. He also brings to the table his considerable knowledge of Indo-China relations.

His former colleague M K Bhadrakumar told rediff.com, "This is a brilliant, thoughtful choice by the prime minister. Besides his wide-ranging career recod, Menon is a diplomat of the highest calibre in his professional skill and capability. He is an extraordinarily amiable personality but he also has leadership qualities. With a three-year tenure, Menon will be singularly well-placed to leave his imprint on the country's foreign policy and diplomacy at a crucial juncture."

Menon was always a front-runner with his extensive experience in China, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Within the establishment he was a man without sharp angularities, which made him a non-controversial figure who imbibed the best mannerisms of career diplomats. Yes, Menon plays golf, too.

His is a story of a person with sharp focus, immense talent and perfect planning who today has got what he was destined for.

"Menon was destined to become foreign secretary since the day he was born!" said a retired diplomat, pointing to the fact that Menon will be stepping into the footsteps of his uncle and grandfather who have also served as foreign secretary.

Former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh told rediff.com, "He comes from a family with a history in India's Foreign Service. Menon's choice signals continuity and it shows the government is assigning foreign policy in the hands of the best professionals."

However, Menon's appointment may not go entirely well within the ministry of external affairs.

Despite that fact that Menon has not made many enemies in his three-decade long career, the officers who have been superseded may not appreciate the prime minister's choice.

A senior MEA advisor told rediff.com, "Menon's name was in the reckoning for the post since the last three weeks but many believed that he will have quite a lot of opposition within the MEA. Many thought Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran will be given an extension. Nirupam Sen or Shiv Shankar Mukherjee and many others were also in the running. But it seems the prime minister has overruled these considerations."

"When Saran did not get the extension letter from the Prime Minister's Office despite media reports, many in government knew that Dr Singh was taking the issue head-on. He wanted to send out the message that only merit will be counted in selecting officers for top posts," said a serving diplomat.

Many officers in the South Block were wondering what the government will do with the three superseded senior diplomats sitting right in the complex.

Former diplomat G Parthasarathy disagrees with the debate on Menon superseding his seniors.

He told rediff.com, "The foreign secretary's is a Grade 1 IFS post. The secretaries (including the foreign secretary in Delhi) and around 15 of our ambassadors abroad all belong to Grade 1 of the IFS -- equivalent to secretary in the Government of India. So technically no one is being superseded."

He added, "There have been many instances in the past when the foreign secretary in Delhi was junior to ambassadors abroad. This happened when Muchkund Dubey succeeded S K Singh, J N Dixit succeeded Dubey, Salman Haider succeeded K Srinivasan, Chokila Iyer succeeded Lalit Mansingh and Shyam Saran succeeded Kanwal Sibal."

Another criticism is about the PMO having too many interlocutors for important countries.

Already for Pakistan and West Asia the government has appointed Satish Lamba and Chinamaya Gharekhan respectively, and they are now being joined by Shyam Saran as special envoy for the Indo-US nuclear deal.

However, Menon and Saran are old friends and Saran's huge contribution to the Indo-US nuclear deal will be a help for Menon. The latter likes stability and predictability and both are likely to get along well.

Another significant question is, how Menon, who is a popular face in Beijing, will jell with Dr Singh's thinking on Indo-US relations?

"The prime minister has selected a person who is unlikely to be a jarring element in his foreign policy. Menon will be articulating Dr Singh's vision on international affairs throughout the prime minister's tenure. Menon's tenure will be longer than the present government's term. That makes Menon's choice significant," said a retired diplomat.

Menon is an expert on relations with China. One-third of his career has been spent in understanding and expanding India-China relations.

He started his diplomatic career in China and has studied the Chinese language. He was first posted as a counselor, before moving to New Delhi to head the China desk as joint secretary. Menon was also a member of the team on border talks with China and later, he was posted as ambassador to China.

A former colleague told rediff.com, "Menon's appointment will be welcomed by China because he carries conviction in Beijing."

Although a majority say Menon is a good choice, a few critics believe he is not going to be bold enough to shake up the fundamental thinking in the MEA.

Mansingh defends Menon saying, "Foreign service officers don't form policies. They implement it. They give professional advice and implement the government's thinking on international affairs."

The Left parties and other critics of the prime minister should be happy that Singh's foreign policy will, hopefully, become multi-dimensional with Menon's arrival.