India disputes China claim of ‘generally stable’ border |
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on 5th May 2023 disputed China’s claim that the border situation with India was ‘generally stable,’ and the Indian Minister said ties were not normal. Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa, Jaishankar said India has complained of dismal progress on the border issue with China. He said in the bilateral meeting along the side lines of SCO with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang there was a ‘frank discussion’, and India insisted that both sides had to take the disengagement process further. Qin and Jaishankar met on 4th May in Goa, and the Chinese side issued a statement that the Chinese Minister, also a State Councillor, told Jaishankar that the two sides should continue to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, consolidate existing achievements, strictly abide by relevant agreements, push for further cooling and easing of the border situation and maintain sustainable peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Jaishankar responded to media questions questioning the Chinese statement of ‘generally stable’ border. Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020. The official word is that the clashes left 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops dead. It was the first clash with fatalities along the LAC since 1975. Since 2020, Beijing has come under fire from New Delhi for breaking border accords and prolonging the conflict. India underlines that ending the current hostility is essential to restoring harmony between the two neighbours. In the statement, Qin called China and India “major neighbours” and said China was willing to work with India to carry out bilateral consultations and exchanges, enhance dialogue and cooperation under multilateral frameworks, deepen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues and bring China-India relations back to the track of sound and stable development.
|
|
|
|
|
