India has once again strongly reiterated to China that violation of existing agreements has eroded the basis of bilateral relations between India and China, and disengagement at the border should lead to de-escalation. This has been India’s continues stand and it has been often conveyed to China in all bilateral meetings in the last three years of the standoff at the borders.
During the meeting of the defence ministers from India and China today, New Delhi’s message was loud and clear- without de-escalation at the LAC, it can’t be business as us. India will never repeat the mistake of Hindi Chini Bhai-Bhai and fall in the Chinese trap of overlooking its transgressions at the border and take bilateral relations forward.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met State Councillor and Minister of National Defence of China General Li Shangfu in New Delhi on Thursday. The two ministers had frank discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations.
Rajnath Singh categorically conveyed that the bilateral ties between India and China is premised on prevalence of peace and tranquility at the borders.
He added that all issues at the LAC need to be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments. He reiterated that violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations and disengagement at the border will logically be followed with de-escalation.
Earlier this month, commenting on the current situation along the Northern borders, the Defence Minister had expressed “full confidence in the Army for any contingency at the borders. He then said, the ongoing talks for peaceful resolution will continue and disengagement and de-escalation is the best way forward.
Since the border stand-off in eastern Ladakh in the summer of 2020, multiple rounds of military and diplomatic negotiations have not yielded much to inspire confidence between the two militaries. Both the Indian Army and China’s PLA (People’s Liberation Army) have amassed troops and machines against each other in the icy Himalayan heights. Complete disengagement and de-induction of forces from the tension zones seem to be a distant reality, the India Today reported.
The Chinese Defence Minister is in Delhi to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting to take place on Friday.
Rajnath Singh will chair the SCO summit, attended by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, Tajikistan’s Colonel General Sherali Mirzo, Iran’s Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiyani and Kazakhstan’s Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov, besides the Uzbekistan defence minister.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is set to attend the meeting through virtual mode.
Officials said the deliberations will focus on regional security situations including the developments in Afghanistan.
They said enhancing coordination among the SCO member countries to effectively combat terrorism and extremism will be another priority.
The SCO is an influential economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organizations. It was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
See Also: https://indiadiplomacy.in/india-firmly-rejects-chinas-objection-to-hm-shahs-arunachal-visit/
