Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar made a notable statement regarding the border talks with China. The Foreign Minister stated that approximately 75% of the issues related to troop withdrawal (disengagement) with Beijing have been resolved, although there remains some work to be done by both countries. Jaishankar also highlighted the complex past relationship between India and China, emphasizing it has never been easy.
The Foreign Minister said, "Our past relations have not been easy. The events of 2020 violated several agreements as China deployed a large number of troops to the Line of Actual Control. In response, we sent our troops as well. Progress has been made in border talks with China."
During a conversation with Ambassador Jean-David Levitte at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy on Thursday, Jaishankar mentioned that around 75% of the issues related to troop withdrawal at the eastern Ladakh border have been resolved but noted that the increasing militarization at the border is a major issue. He acknowledged that there is still work to be done.
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Impact of Galwan Clash on Relations
Jaishankar further stated, "If there is a solution to troop withdrawal and the return of peace and stability, we can consider other possibilities. This is the most crucial issue." Jaishankar also spoke about the difficult past relations between the two countries. He mentioned the clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in 2020. The June 2020 Galwan Valley clashes have affected India-China relations, he stressed, noting that it cannot be said that other relations remain unaffected after the border violence.
He mentioned that economic ties with China have been "unfair and unbalanced." The Foreign Minister said, "(India-China relations) It's a very complex relationship... it has had its rough patches in history. Both countries are attempting to get their relations back on track in a way, rejuvenating them. Both are the only countries with a population exceeding a billion. Generally, as a country progresses, it impacts its neighbors. These two countries also have the respect of being neighbors to each other."
Meeting Held in Beijing
It's worth noting that India and China held the 31st meeting of the WMCC on August 29 in Beijing, where both sides agreed to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas according to relevant bilateral agreements and protocols. According to the Foreign Ministry, both sides exchanged clear, constructive, and forward-looking views on the situation at the LAC and also agreed to enhance communication through diplomatic and military channels.
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The Foreign Minister added that apart from the border issues, both countries face difficulties in other areas such as technology, telecommunications, and digital sectors. He stated, "I believe there are bigger issues in India-China relations. We have struggled with trade issues for a long time... Economic relations with China have been very unfair. It's highly unbalanced as we do not have access to their market. They have much better market access in India. Today, we face several concerns in various sectors such as technology, telecommunications, and digital."
Jaishankar arrived in Switzerland on September 12 after concluding his visits to Germany and Saudi Arabia. Earlier on Wednesday, Jaishankar met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin and conveyed personal greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
