News Analysis India

Tag: India-China relations

  • India has to factor China’s assertiveness in its overall strategic calculus: Chief of Defence Staff

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Thursday said China’s assertiveness is more evident now with its rise and India will have to take this aspect into account in its overall “strategic calculus”.

    Delivering the annual Gen KV Krishna Rao memorial lecture, India’s senior most military officer delved into various national security challenges and profound geopolitical changes. While the global geopolitical environment is under transition, India has transitioned from non-alignment to self-alignment, he pointed out and also referred to India’s “major dispute” along the northern borders with China.

    “Strategic autonomy may be relevant to exploit opportunities rather than to take care of threats. That’s where the future should lie. We should be thinking about opportunities more,” he said.

    “All that I said comes with a little bit of a caveat because of the northern neighbour. In this strategic calculus, India will have to take into account the emergence of China as a major power,” the Chief of Defence Staff said.

    “China’s assertiveness is more evident with its rise. India has a major dispute on its northern borders with China and will have to play the strategic autonomy card,” he added.

    Referring to the existing flux in the global geopolitical order, Gen Chauhan also underlined the need for India to continue maintaining “strategic autonomy” in its approach and highlighted how New Delhi was moving forward from its approach of “non-alignment” to an era of being a “Vishwa-mitra” — a friend to the world.

    The CDS cited India’s nuclear tests in 1998, its “neutral and a nuanced” stand on the Russia-Ukraine war and the decision to go ahead with procurement of S-400 missile systems from Moscow notwithstanding threats of sanctions as examples of the country exercising its “strategic autonomy”.

    ALSO READ | IAF to continue operations in eastern Ladakh as complete disengagement with China yet to take place

    “I believe that India has transited ahead from non-alignment of yesteryears to self-alignment as you said to maybe multi-alignment,” he noted.

    Gen Chauhan said, “If I were to summarize the journey of India from non-alignment to exercising of strategic autonomy, it can be based on what I can say is three S’s. First is securing India. Next is self-reliance. And lastly, shaping the environment to India’s advantage and benefit,” he said.

    He underlined the significance of economic aspects of global geopolitics and that the global balance of power can be shifted by economic alignment and even issues like morality, righteousness and convergence of global interests.

    “In India’s famous epic Mahabharata, Lord Krishna shifted the balance of power towards the Pandavas. His military might went to the Kauravas but it was only his righteousness and sage advice which shifted the balance of power,” he said.

    “And ultimately the Pandavas emerged victorious in that particular war. We as a nation have utilised the G20 platform to leverage soft power to play a dominating role. So these are also important facts we must keep in mind when we take strategic decisions on how to get aligned in future,” he said.

    Gen Chauhan said the global geopolitical environment is currently in a state of flux and India must exercise its options looking at its national interests.

    “The world is transiting between two orders. The old order is withering away and no one knows the contours of this new order and how it will shape up in the long run,” he said.

    Gen Chauhan also cited the financial crisis, disruptions in the global supply chains due to COVID-19, food and fertilizer shortages due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in the South China Sea as some of the manifestations of the geopolitical and geoeconomic flux.

    NEW DELHI: Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Thursday said China’s assertiveness is more evident now with its rise and India will have to take this aspect into account in its overall “strategic calculus”.

    Delivering the annual Gen KV Krishna Rao memorial lecture, India’s senior most military officer delved into various national security challenges and profound geopolitical changes. While the global geopolitical environment is under transition, India has transitioned from non-alignment to self-alignment, he pointed out and also referred to India’s “major dispute” along the northern borders with China.

    “Strategic autonomy may be relevant to exploit opportunities rather than to take care of threats. That’s where the future should lie. We should be thinking about opportunities more,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “All that I said comes with a little bit of a caveat because of the northern neighbour. In this strategic calculus, India will have to take into account the emergence of China as a major power,” the Chief of Defence Staff said.

    “China’s assertiveness is more evident with its rise. India has a major dispute on its northern borders with China and will have to play the strategic autonomy card,” he added.

    Referring to the existing flux in the global geopolitical order, Gen Chauhan also underlined the need for India to continue maintaining “strategic autonomy” in its approach and highlighted how New Delhi was moving forward from its approach of “non-alignment” to an era of being a “Vishwa-mitra” — a friend to the world.

    The CDS cited India’s nuclear tests in 1998, its “neutral and a nuanced” stand on the Russia-Ukraine war and the decision to go ahead with procurement of S-400 missile systems from Moscow notwithstanding threats of sanctions as examples of the country exercising its “strategic autonomy”.

    ALSO READ | IAF to continue operations in eastern Ladakh as complete disengagement with China yet to take place

    “I believe that India has transited ahead from non-alignment of yesteryears to self-alignment as you said to maybe multi-alignment,” he noted.

    Gen Chauhan said, “If I were to summarize the journey of India from non-alignment to exercising of strategic autonomy, it can be based on what I can say is three S’s. First is securing India. Next is self-reliance. And lastly, shaping the environment to India’s advantage and benefit,” he said.

    He underlined the significance of economic aspects of global geopolitics and that the global balance of power can be shifted by economic alignment and even issues like morality, righteousness and convergence of global interests.

    “In India’s famous epic Mahabharata, Lord Krishna shifted the balance of power towards the Pandavas. His military might went to the Kauravas but it was only his righteousness and sage advice which shifted the balance of power,” he said.

    “And ultimately the Pandavas emerged victorious in that particular war. We as a nation have utilised the G20 platform to leverage soft power to play a dominating role. So these are also important facts we must keep in mind when we take strategic decisions on how to get aligned in future,” he said.

    Gen Chauhan said the global geopolitical environment is currently in a state of flux and India must exercise its options looking at its national interests.

    “The world is transiting between two orders. The old order is withering away and no one knows the contours of this new order and how it will shape up in the long run,” he said.

    Gen Chauhan also cited the financial crisis, disruptions in the global supply chains due to COVID-19, food and fertilizer shortages due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in the South China Sea as some of the manifestations of the geopolitical and geoeconomic flux.

  • Amid row, India says journalists from all G20 countries including China welcome to cover summit

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India will facilitate journalists from all G20 nations to cover the summit including those from China, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This comes amid a row between India and China over the revoking of credentials of each other’s journalists. There is one Chinese journalist in India and two Indian journalists in China.

    “We have been holding G20 meetings which have been attended by foreign journalists. The journalists have to register and get accredited and visas are thereafter issued. We will be doing the same for journalists for the upcoming G20 Summit in September,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

    India has reiterated that foreign journalists, including Chinese, have been pursuing journalistic activities in India without limitations or difficulties in reporting.

    “Chinese journalists in India have no difficulties in reporting. However, Indian journalists in China have been operating with difficulties – such as not being permitted to hire locals as correspondents or journalists. Foreign media in India can freely hire local journalists to work for their bureaus. Indian journalists in China also face restrictions while getting access and travelling locally within China,” said Bagchi.

    India hopes that Chinese authorities facilitate the continued presence of Indian journalists in working and reporting from China. The two sides remain in touch regarding this issue.

    Meanwhile, the Chinese side alleges that their journalists in India have suffered unfair treatment.

    “Chinese journalists have suffered unfair and discriminatory treatment in India for long. In 2017, India had reduced the validity of visas for our journalists to three months and sometimes just one month and since 2020 India hasn’t approved Chinese journalists applications for being stationed in India. At present there is just one Chinese journalist in India, down from 14 in the past. As a result China has taken counter measures,” said China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning recently.

    China says that it would like to maintain communication with India under the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

    “We hope that India will work in the same direction with China and respond to our legitimate concerns and create conditions for restoring normal exchange between media organizations of both countries,” Ning said.

    India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reiterated that India’s relationship with China is not normal.

    India and China have several issues with each other – the biggest being the stand-off at the LAC. The recently held 27th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) which was held in-person did talk about disengaging from the LAC and restoring peace.

    NEW DELHI: India will facilitate journalists from all G20 nations to cover the summit including those from China, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This comes amid a row between India and China over the revoking of credentials of each other’s journalists. There is one Chinese journalist in India and two Indian journalists in China.

    “We have been holding G20 meetings which have been attended by foreign journalists. The journalists have to register and get accredited and visas are thereafter issued. We will be doing the same for journalists for the upcoming G20 Summit in September,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

    India has reiterated that foreign journalists, including Chinese, have been pursuing journalistic activities in India without limitations or difficulties in reporting.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Chinese journalists in India have no difficulties in reporting. However, Indian journalists in China have been operating with difficulties – such as not being permitted to hire locals as correspondents or journalists. Foreign media in India can freely hire local journalists to work for their bureaus. Indian journalists in China also face restrictions while getting access and travelling locally within China,” said Bagchi.

    India hopes that Chinese authorities facilitate the continued presence of Indian journalists in working and reporting from China. The two sides remain in touch regarding this issue.

    Meanwhile, the Chinese side alleges that their journalists in India have suffered unfair treatment.

    “Chinese journalists have suffered unfair and discriminatory treatment in India for long. In 2017, India had reduced the validity of visas for our journalists to three months and sometimes just one month and since 2020 India hasn’t approved Chinese journalists applications for being stationed in India. At present there is just one Chinese journalist in India, down from 14 in the past. As a result China has taken counter measures,” said China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning recently.

    China says that it would like to maintain communication with India under the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

    “We hope that India will work in the same direction with China and respond to our legitimate concerns and create conditions for restoring normal exchange between media organizations of both countries,” Ning said.

    India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reiterated that India’s relationship with China is not normal.

    India and China have several issues with each other – the biggest being the stand-off at the LAC. The recently held 27th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) which was held in-person did talk about disengaging from the LAC and restoring peace.

  • Pakistan encouraging cross-border terrorism, relations with China abnormal: Jaishankar

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India’s most pressing priorities are in its neighbourhood. However, Pakistan due to its support for cross-border terrorism is the odd one out among the country’s neighbours, says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

    “India has a generous and non-reciprocal approach to smaller neighbours. This in our region has come to be known as the neighbourhood first policy. This has seen an increase in cooperation and connectivity in the region. The only exception is Pakistan due to its encouragement of cross border terrorism,” said Jaishankar in his first visit to the Dominican Republic.

    It may be recalled that a few days back while addressing the media in Panama, Jaishankar had made a similar statement.

    This comes ahead of the SCO Foreign Ministers meet that will be held in Goa on May 4-5 which will be attended in person by Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto.

    ALSO READ | Operation Kaveri: India evacuates French embassy staffer from Sudan besides its own citizens

    Meanwhile, he also said that relations with China are abnormal.

    “Because of the boundary dispute, the nature of our ties with China are abnormal. That is an outcome of violation of agreements regarding border management by them. The rise of China and India in a parallel timeframe is also not without its competitive aspects,” Jaishankar added.

    China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang too is expected to attend the upcoming SCO meet in Goa.

    Meanwhile, Jaishankar, along with the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, inaugurated the Indian embassy in the country.

    “Our political relations are exceptionally cordial and we coordinate closely in the multilateral arena. We are confident that the presence of our resident mission will mark a new phase of cooperation and help strengthen our ties in the bilateral, regional and global domains,” Jaishankar said.

    NEW DELHI: India’s most pressing priorities are in its neighbourhood. However, Pakistan due to its support for cross-border terrorism is the odd one out among the country’s neighbours, says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

    “India has a generous and non-reciprocal approach to smaller neighbours. This in our region has come to be known as the neighbourhood first policy. This has seen an increase in cooperation and connectivity in the region. The only exception is Pakistan due to its encouragement of cross border terrorism,” said Jaishankar in his first visit to the Dominican Republic.

    It may be recalled that a few days back while addressing the media in Panama, Jaishankar had made a similar statement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    This comes ahead of the SCO Foreign Ministers meet that will be held in Goa on May 4-5 which will be attended in person by Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto.

    ALSO READ | Operation Kaveri: India evacuates French embassy staffer from Sudan besides its own citizens

    Meanwhile, he also said that relations with China are abnormal.

    “Because of the boundary dispute, the nature of our ties with China are abnormal. That is an outcome of violation of agreements regarding border management by them. The rise of China and India in a parallel timeframe is also not without its competitive aspects,” Jaishankar added.

    China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang too is expected to attend the upcoming SCO meet in Goa.

    Meanwhile, Jaishankar, along with the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, inaugurated the Indian embassy in the country.

    “Our political relations are exceptionally cordial and we coordinate closely in the multilateral arena. We are confident that the presence of our resident mission will mark a new phase of cooperation and help strengthen our ties in the bilateral, regional and global domains,” Jaishankar said.

  • India rejects China’s objections to Amit Shah’s Arunachal Pradesh visit

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: A day after China raised objections to Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said the northeastern state was an “integral and inalienable part of India”.

    “Such objections do not stand to reason and will not change reality,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

    “We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India,” Bagchi said.

    “Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality,” he said.

    China had raised an objection when Amit Shah visited Arunachal Pradesh and launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ from Kibithoo, a village along the India-China border and India’s easternmost place.

    Addressing a gathering, the Home Minister, in a clear message to China, said no one can dare cast an evil eye on India’s territorial integrity and encroach even an “inch of our land”.

    ALSO READ | Nobody can cast evil eye on us or encroach upon our land, says Amit Shah in Arunachal

    “Times when anyone could encroach on Indian land have passed. No one can question India’s territorial integrity. Nobody can take even an inch of our land,” he had said.

    Last week, China “renamed” some places in Arunachal Pradesh that it claims as part of its territory. This is the third time that China has “renamed” places in Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls “Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet”.

    India had rejected this claim too and had issued a statement to that effect.

    “We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright. Arunachal Pradesh is, has been and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality,” Bagchi had said on April 4.

    The 11 places ‘renamed’ include five mountain peaks, two residential areas, two land areas and two rivers. The claimed geographical area has always been controlled and administered by India.

    India-China relations have been strained since the Galwan incident in June 2020 though diplomatically both countries are still connected and are part of groupings like BRICS, G20 and RICs. China has taken part in a number of G20 related events in India uptil now – both physically and virtually.

    NEW DELHI: A day after China raised objections to Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said the northeastern state was an “integral and inalienable part of India”.

    “Such objections do not stand to reason and will not change reality,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

    “We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India,” Bagchi said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality,” he said.

    China had raised an objection when Amit Shah visited Arunachal Pradesh and launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ from Kibithoo, a village along the India-China border and India’s easternmost place.

    Addressing a gathering, the Home Minister, in a clear message to China, said no one can dare cast an evil eye on India’s territorial integrity and encroach even an “inch of our land”.

    ALSO READ | Nobody can cast evil eye on us or encroach upon our land, says Amit Shah in Arunachal

    “Times when anyone could encroach on Indian land have passed. No one can question India’s territorial integrity. Nobody can take even an inch of our land,” he had said.

    Last week, China “renamed” some places in Arunachal Pradesh that it claims as part of its territory. This is the third time that China has “renamed” places in Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls “Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet”.

    India had rejected this claim too and had issued a statement to that effect.

    “We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright. Arunachal Pradesh is, has been and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality,” Bagchi had said on April 4.

    The 11 places ‘renamed’ include five mountain peaks, two residential areas, two land areas and two rivers. The claimed geographical area has always been controlled and administered by India.

    India-China relations have been strained since the Galwan incident in June 2020 though diplomatically both countries are still connected and are part of groupings like BRICS, G20 and RICs. China has taken part in a number of G20 related events in India uptil now – both physically and virtually.

  • Jaishankar flags ‘sharpening of tensions’ on territorial issues across Asia amidst China’s rise

    By PTI

    ABU DHABI: The consequences of China’s rise and its growing capabilities are “particularly profound”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said as he flagged the “sharpening of tensions” on territorial issues across Asia with Beijing’s actions raising a question mark on the agreements of yesteryears.

    Speaking at the fifth Indian Ocean Conference – IOC 2021 – in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, Jaishankar also said that in a globalised world, it is vital that the freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded commerce are respected and facilitated.

    Noting that a number of developments have taken place that have direct bearing on the well-being of the Indian Ocean region, the minister said that two developments – the changing American strategic posture and the rise of China – have influenced the evolution of the Indian Ocean in recent years.

    “Since 2008, we have witnessed a greater caution in US power projection and an effort to correct its over-extension. It may have taken different forms and be articulated in very different ways. But there is a larger consistency over three Administrations that they themselves may not readily recognise,” he said.

    “It is expressed in footprint and posture, terms of engagement, extent of involvement and nature of initiatives. Overall, the United States is moving towards greater realism both about itself and the world. It is adjusting to multipolarity and rebalancing and re-examining the balance between its domestic revival and commitments abroad,” he said.

    “The second major trend is the rise of China. Even otherwise, the emergence of a power at a global level is an extraordinary happening. That this is a ‘different’ kind of polity enhances the sense of change. The USSR may have borne some similarities, but it never had the centrality to the global economy that China has today,” he said.

    “The consequences of China’s growing capabilities are particularly profound because of the extrapolation of its domestic seamlessness to the world outside. As a result, whether it is connectivity, technology or trade, there is now an ongoing debate on the changed nature of power and influence.

    “Separately, we have also seen a sharpening of tensions on territorial issues across the breadth of Asia. Agreements and understandings of yesteryears now seem to have some question marks. Time will, of course, provide answers,” he said, apparently referring to the unresolved border standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh since May last year.

    India has told China that it should adhere to the previously signed bilateral agreements on maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    The Chinese military’s aggressive moves in eastern Ladakh along the LAC with India last year triggered a border standoff between the two sides.

    The standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military maneuvering in the region.

    China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it.

    Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

    Asserting that difficult times require stronger international cooperation, he said the Quad – the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprising the United States, India, Japan and Australia – is a good example at one extremity of the Indian Ocean.

    “Within the space of a year, it has developed a robust agenda covering maritime security, cyber security, climate action, vaccine collaboration, critical and emerging technologies, higher education, resilient supply chains, disinformation, multilateral organisations, semi-conductors, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief as well as infrastructure development.

    The old adage that where there is a will there is a way clearly has much to it,” he said.

    “Another promising endeavour is the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative that is being undertaken in the framework of the East Asia Summit at the initiative of India.

    It is a good illustration of the practical challenges that we, the nations of the Indian Ocean, face in terms of nurturing, securing and utilizing the maritime domain,” he said.

    He said that any serious discussion of a domain naturally involves an assessment of the rules that apply.

    In the case of the maritime one, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 is regarded very much as the constitution for the seas.

    “Especially in a globalised world, it is vital that freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded commerce are respected and facilitated.

    It is also essential that disputes, if any, are resolved through peaceful means without threat or use of force and the exercise of self-restraint in the conduct of activities.

    “As a state party to UNCLOS itself, India has always urged all parties to show utmost respect for the convention, including recognising the authority of its tribunal and its awards.

    Only then can we be assured that the sea lanes of communication remain conducive to peace, stability, prosperity and development,” he added.

    In 2016, an international tribunal ruled against China’s claims to rights in the disputed South China Sea.

    Beijing dismissed the ruling that favoured the Philippines and said it would not be bound by it.

    In August, the Presidential Statement on maritime security, adopted unanimously under India’s Presidency after the UN Security Council open debate reaffirmed in categorical terms that the 1982 UNCLOS sets out the legal framework for maritime activities, sending a strong message to China.

    Jaishankar also said that the American withdrawal from Afghanistan and the impact of COVID pandemic have significantly heightened uncertainties in the Indian Ocean region that is particularly vulnerable to health and economic stresses.

    On the existential issue of climate change, he said countries of the Indian Ocean have the highest stakes.

    “There is widespread disappointment about the lack of adequate progress on climate finance.

    Developing countries cannot consent to the developed shifting responsibilities,” he said.

    The theme of the fifth Indian Ocean Conference – IOC 2021 – is “Indian Ocean: Ecology, Economy, Epidemic”.

    The first edition of the conference was hosted in Singapore in 2016 followed by three successive editions in Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Maldives respectively.

    PTI MRJ/ZH AKJ ZH ZH 12051717 NNNN

  • Eastern Ladakh: Jaishankar calls for early resolution of remaining issues in talks with Wang Yi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the two sides should work for an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and that China avoid viewing its ties with India through the lens of a third country.

    In a meeting on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe on Thursday, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on the current situation in the region and agreed that military and diplomatic officials of both sides should meet again and discuss resolving the remaining issues at the earliest.

    Jaishankar also told Wang that India had never subscribed to any “clash of civilisations theory” and that Asian solidarity would depend on the example set by India-China relations, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

    He also said the two sides need to establish a relationship based on “mutual respect” for which it was necessary that China avoid viewing the ties with India from the perspective of its relations with third countries, it said.

    On Twitter, Jaishankar said: “It is also essential that China does not view its relations with India through the lens of a third country.

    ” While Jaishankar mentioned “a third country”, the statement by the MEA talked about “third countries”.

    It is learnt that the two sides also exchanged views on developments in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover of the country.

    In a statement, the MEA said on Friday that the two ministers exchanged views on the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh as well as on global developments.

    It said Jaishankar underlined that it was necessary to ensure progress in the resolution of remaining issues so as to restore peace and tranquillity along the LAC in eastern Ladakh as such an atmosphere in the border areas has been an essential basis for progress in the bilateral relations.

    “In this regard, the ministers agreed that military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should meet again and continue their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest,” the MEA said.

    “In this context, the external affairs minister (EAM) recalled that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had in their last meeting noted that the bilateral relations were at low ebb,” it said.

    The MEA said both sides in the previous meeting had agreed that a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side as it was impacting the relationship in a negative manner.

    “The EAM, therefore, emphasised that the two sides should work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols,” the MEA said.

    “The external affairs minister noted that since their last meeting on July 14, the two sides had made some progress in the resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and had completed the disengagement in Gogra area,” it said.

    However, there were still some outstanding issues that needed to be resolved,” it added.

    Wang and Jaishankar had held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of another conclave of the SCO in Dushanbe on July 14.

    In the meeting, Jaishankar told Wang that any unilateral change in the status quo along the LAC was “not acceptable” to India and that the overall ties can only develop after full restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh.

    At Thursday’s meeting, the two ministers also exchanged views on the recent global developments.

    “The EAM conveyed that India had never subscribed to any clash of civilisations theory.

    He said that India and China had to deal with each other on merits and establish a relationship based on mutual respect,” the MEA said.

    “For this, it was necessary that China avoid viewing our bilateral relations from the perspective of its relations with third countries.

    Asian solidarity would depend on the example set by India-China relations,”it said.

    It said the ministers agreed to remain in touch.

    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in Gogra area last month.

    In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.

    PTI MPB ANB ANB 09170918 NNNN

  • Corps Commander-level talks: India, China discuss disengagement at Gogra Heights, Hot Springs area

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: India and China are discussing disengagement of troops from friction points including Gogra Heights and Hot Springs area during the 12th round of Corps Commander-level talks, said Indian Army sources on Saturday.

    The 12th round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China began at 10:30 am in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control.

    India and China have already disengaged from the banks of Pangong lake after extensive talks and the Gogra Heights and Hot Springs areas are left to be resolved as these friction points were created post-Chinese aggression last year.

    The two countries have been engaged in a military standoff for almost a year but disengaged from the most contentious Pangong lake area last month after extensive talks at both military and political levels.

    The credit for the disengagement was given to all stakeholders by Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane who also talked about the country benefitting from the inputs given by the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during the crisis.

    Earlier, India and China held 11 rounds of talks at the Corps Commander level to reach the arrangement to disengage from the Pangong lake area. 

  • 12th round of Sino-India military talks to be held on Saturday; India hopes for forward movement

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The 12th round of high-level military talks between India and China will take place on Saturday with a focus on achieving some forward movement in the disengagement in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, sources in the military establishment said.

    The fresh round of Corps Commander talks are scheduled to start at 10:30 AM at Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, they added. Sources said that the main focus of the talks will be on addressing outstanding problems in Hot Springs and Gogra.

    The latest round of talks will take place after a gap of more than three and a half months. The 11th round of talks had taken place on April 9 at the Chushul border point on the Indian side of the LAC. India and China have been locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.

    The two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks. There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

  • Worrying: China is creating permanent structures in Ladakh

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The apprehensions of a long haul along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh have started manifesting on the ground as the Chinese forces have been creating permanent structures in areas wherever the Peoples’ Liberation Army troops are deployed. This comes after the Indian Air Force Chief confirmed that the Chinese are improving their air infrastructure.

    Sources in the security establishment said that “the Chinese have been creating permanent structures, including those required for defences and habitation of the troops”. In view of the Chinese move, India has also been building permanent defences and structures for habitation but these will take some time, added the source.

    Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria had said in the first week of July that China had strengthened its infrastructure and improved the efficiency of its air operations. Since May 2020, the PLA has moved its soldiers along the LAC at several points, forcing the Indian army to counter the Chinese move with its own deployments. Although there has been disengagement of troops and equipment from the north and suth banks of Pangong Tso since then, the standoff continuing in areas like Hot Spring, Gogra Post and Depsang. 

    Defence Analyst Maj-Gen (retd) S B Asthana calls it a furtherance of the Chinese ‘incremental encroachment strategy’. “China, in the overall design under incremental encroachment strategy, is trying to enforce the infra development and its claim along its perception of LAC and in that context, is trying to settle down villages and make permanent structures so that over a period, its claim gets strengthened.” 

    “We should also improve our infrastructure along our perception of LAC and also make permanent structures and settle down villages so that the Chinese don’t succeed in their game plan,” he suggested as a counter move. India has ramped up road-building along the LAC and has also mobilised the troops with more than 50,000 personnel stationed in eastern Ladakh to thwart any move by the PLA men. 

  • India pitches for early disengagement in remaining areas in eastern Ladakh

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India on Friday hoped that China will work with it to ensure disengagement of troops in remaining areas of eastern Ladakh at the earliest, and asserted that de-escalation of tension alone will lead to restoration of peace and tranquility in border areas and provide conditions for progress of bilateral ties.

    At a media briefing, Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said the two sides continue to remain in touch through military and diplomatic channels on the issue.

    He also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s comments that a prolongation of the situation is in neither side’s interest.

    “We, therefore, hope that the Chinese side will work with us to ensure that disengagement in the remaining areas is completed at the earliest,” he added.

    This, he said, would allow both sides to consider de-escalation of forces in eastern Ladakh as that alone will lead to the restoration of peace and tranquility and provide conditions for progress of the bilateral relationship.

    Bagchi also said that there was a consensus that the two sides should now quickly resolve the remaining issues in the region.

    “The disengagement in Pangong Lake area was a significant step forward and it has provided a good basis for resolution of other remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control in western sector,” he said.

    Bagchi said the two sides had detailed exchange of views on the remaining issues both at the the senior commanders’ meeting and the discussions held under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs.