After LAC clashes, relationship between India-China 'profoundly disturbed': EAM Jaishankar

On Friday, speaking at a virtual event hosted by Asia Society, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that presence of a large number of Chinese troops with weapons at Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh poses a "very critical" security challenge to India.

Jaishankar also said that violent clashes at de facto border in Ladakh sector in June had a very deep public and political impact and it has left relationship between India and China “profoundly disturbed”.

At special Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) event, Jaishankar was in conversation with ASPI President Kevin Rudd, a former Australian prime minister. two also spoke about Jaishankar’s new book ‘ India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World". Jaishankar said that India has built a relationship with China over course of last 30 years “and a basis for building that relationship has been peace and tranquillity along Line of Actual Control.”

He said that re are multiple agreements, starting from 1993, which created framework for that peace and tranquillity, which limited military forces that came to border areas, how to man border, how border troops behave when y approach each or.

In response to a question on what did Chinese actually do on border and why y did it, Jaishankar said: “I haven’t frankly got any reasonable explanation that I can tell myself from m on this matter." Jaishankar said that apart from Wuhan Summit in April 2018, re was a similar summit in Chennai last year and idea of se parleys was that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping spend time, talk to each or directly about ir concerns.

On Tuesday, in order to effectively continue disengment process between both countries, seventh round of military-level talks was held in Chushul between Indian army and Chinese army. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be interacting via video conference in upcoming BRICS summit on vember 17, first interaction between two country heads since  Galwan valley violence, where 20 soldiers were martyred. 

PM Modi & China's President Xi Jinping To Interact First Time Since Galwan At BRICS Summit

Defence Minister on LAC

During  monsoon session, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement on LAC situation in both Houses of Parliament. He affirmed that Armed Forces were capable of facing any challenge from China. While ackwledging that situation at LAC is very different both in terms of scale of troops involve and number of friction points, he reiterated India's commitment for a peaceful resolution of dispute. Moreover, two countries' foreign ministers have reached to a five-point consensus on continuing dialogue and quickly diseng, while houring all existing agreements and protocol on China-India boundary affairs.

India & China reach 5-point consensus amid LAC tensions as Jaishankar meets Wang Yi

LAC tensions between India and China

On intervening night of August 29-30,  Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops violated  previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engments. Indian troops t only pre-empted activity of PLA on sourn bank of Pangong Tso lake but also thwarted attempts to unilaterally change facts on ground, with 20 Jawans making ultimate sacrifice and inflicting casualties on Chinese side that Beijing hasn't yet revealed. On August 31,  MEA revealed that China once again engd in provocative action even as ground commanders of two nations were trying to deescalate situation. However, Indian Army yet again foiled attempt to unilaterally change status quo.  

READ | India thwarts China's attempt to change status quo at Eastern Ladakh; Army warns Beijing

On September 8, Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) mouthpiece Global Times claimed that Indian troops illegally crossed Line of Actual Control (LAC) and 'outrously fired warning shots' on Chinese border patrol soldiers who were about to negotiate.  Indian Army refuted all claims by China and clarified that India is committed to disengment and de-escalating situation on LAC but China continues to undertake provocative activities to escalate.

Moreover, Chinese claims were laid bare and truth was obfuscated when a photo from incident showed PLA troops at south bank of Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh sector milled toger and armed with spears, machetes, or rudimentary weapons along and automatic rifles. 

READ | India and China hold 7th round of Military-level talks at Chushul border near LAC

(with PTI inputs)