India-China relations, strained since the April 2020 clashes in eastern Ladakh, are seeing improvement due to continued diplomatic engagement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The clashes, which led to fatalities on both sides for the first time in 45 years, had marked a low point in bilateral ties.
Outlining India’s approach, Jaishankar emphasized three principles for managing border issues:
- Strict Respect for the LAC: Both nations must adhere to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in its current form.
- No Unilateral Alteration of Status Quo: Both sides must avoid actions that disrupt existing agreements.
- Full Compliance with Past Agreements: Agreements and understandings must be respected in their entirety.
My statement in Lok Sabha regarding ‘recent developments in India’s relations with China’.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 3, 2024
The External Affairs Minister acknowledged the challenges faced during the 2020 standoff, including the disruption of patrolling activities and the amassing of Chinese troops along the LAC. He commended the Indian armed forces for their rapid and effective counter-deployment despite logistical hurdles and the ongoing COVID-19 crisis at the time.
Diplomatic Efforts Lead to Progress
Jaishankar highlighted diplomatic efforts that have included nearly two dozen rounds of talks between military commanders. A significant breakthrough came with an October agreement under which troops from both sides returned to their pre-April 2020 positions and resumed patrolling routes.
ALSO READ: S Jaishankar highlights complexity of Tipu Sultan’s legacy at book launch
This agreement, implemented last week, marked a turning point, particularly as it was announced just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BRICS summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The disengagement process, completed in areas like Depsang and Demchok, follows earlier positive developments in the Pangong Lake region and Gogra-Hot Springs in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Path to Normalisation
Jaishankar stressed the importance of de-escalation as the next step, focusing on reducing the massing of troops along the LAC. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to resolving the border issue through bilateral talks to achieve a “fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable settlement.”
The remarks came shortly after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, during an ASEAN summit in Laos. This was the first high-level ministerial engagement since the disengagement process in eastern Ladakh.
The recent developments suggest progress toward restoring peace and stability along the India-China border. While challenges remain, the disengagement at critical friction points and ongoing diplomatic dialogue reflect a roadmap for potential normalisation of ties between the two nations.
