Border peace & tranquillity pre-requisite for normal ties between India, China says EAM Jaishankar

By  News On Air   Dec 03, 2024

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has stressed that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas is a prerequisite for the development of ties between India and China. He said, both the countries will be discussing de-escalation and effective management of activities in border areas in the coming days. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha today on recent developments in India’s relations with China, the Minister pointed out that continuous diplomatic engagements have set Indo-China ties in the direction of some improvement.

On the face-off between the Indian and Chinese army in April-May 2020 in eastern Ladakh, Dr Jaishankar said, India-China ties have been abnormal since 2020 when peace and tranquillity in the border areas were disturbed as a result of Chinese actions. He said the amassing of a large number of troops by China along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh in April-May2020 resulted in face-offs with forces at a number of points. He added that the situation also led to the disruption of patrolling activities. He lauded the role of armed forces saying that despite logistical challenges and the Covid situation, India was able to counter-deploy rapidly and effectively. Dr Jaishakar said that disengagement has now been achieved in eastern Ladakh through a step-by-step process, culminating in Depsang and Demchok regions in eastern Ladakh.

The Minister highlighted that China illegally occupied 38 thousand square kilometres of Indian territory in Aksai Chin as a result of the 1962 conflicts. He added that Pakistan illegally ceded five thousand 180 square kilometres of Indian territory to China in 1963, which has been under its occupation since 1948. The Minister said India and China have held talks for multiple decades to resolve the boundary issue. The Minister reiterated that India is committed to engaging with China through bilateral discussions to arrive at a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for a boundary settlement.

Highlighting the steps taken by the government to improve the border infrastructure, Dr Jaishankar said, work is progressing on some strategically important roads and airfields in Ladakh. The Minister said this reflects the government’s firm commitment to protecting borders and ensuring that armed forces get the facilities and the logistical support.