'India Has Difficult History With China': S Jaishankar Amid Border Standoff

New Delhi: Reflecting his thoughts on India-China relationship, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that the history of the ties between the two nations has been difficult. The EAM's remarks came as he was addressing the Asia Society at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York on Tuesday, September 24. 

He also recalled the clash between the Indian and Chinese troops during the period of COVID-19, underlining the China's violation of agreements to the line of actual control (LAC). He highlighted how the deployment of Chinese troops was increased in the border areas which resulted in the deadly clash between the soldiers of both the countries.

Jaishankar said, "We have a difficult history with China... Despite the explicit agreements we had with China, we saw in the middle of COVID that the Chinese moved large number of forces in violation of these agreements to the line of actual control (LAC)." 

Jaishankar said this incident of clash on India-border has overshadowed the bilateral relationship. Acknowledging the current situation, the EAM said that the challenges between the two nations still persist, particularly over the border patrolling rights.

'When I Said 75% Dispute Sorted Out...'

He also clarified that earlier when he said that 75 per cent of dispute between the two nations had been sorted out, he was only talking about the 'disengagement' part, adding that it was one part of the problem and that many other issues still need to be resolved. Reiterating that much of the disengagement issue has been sort out and that next step will be de-escalation of the ongoing matters to ensure peace in border areas.

"It was likely a mishap would happen, and it did. So, there was a clash, and a number of troops died on either side. That in a sense, overshadowed the relationship...  When I said 75% of it has been sorted out, it's only of the disengagement. So, that's one part of the problem... So we've been able to sort out much of the disengagement, in the friction points, but some of the patrolling issues need to be resolved... The next step will be de-escalation..," he added.

He highlighted the significance of de-escalation of issues in order to ensure peace and tranquility in the border regions. 

During his opening remarks at the event, the EAM stated that India's ties with the Gulf nations has transformed significantly over the past decade. The event's theme was ‘India, Asia & the World’. Sharing images from his address, the Finance Minister tweeted," As rebalancing, multipolarity and plurilateralism become key words of Asian and global geopolitics and a changing world tries to adjust to the shocks of pandemic and conflicts, India’s rise and India’s role on the world will be crucial to watch."