By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi, December 4. India has made it clear that it will remain engaged with China to find a mutually acceptable solution to the border issue provided the sanctity of the Line of Actual Control is respected and past agreements on border management are respected without any attempt to change the status quo.
Making a statement in the Lok Sabha on December 3, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar gave clear picture of the government’s position maintaining ties with China following the agreement reached in October between New Delhi and Beijing to resolve the border issue in eastern Ladakh. This was the first major statement by the government elaborating India’s position in the wake of the agreement reached by the two sides on October 21 to address the two remaining friction points of Depsang and Demchok.
Jaishankar said that that October 21 agreement is the latest in the series of understandings in regard to the resolution of the situation at various friction points in eastern Ladakh following the border conflict in May-June 2020, and the initial disengagement in Galwan Valley in July 2020.
“Through you (Lok Sabha Speaker), I would like to inform the House, that disengagement has now been achieved in full in Eastern Ladakh through a step by step process, culminating in Depsang and Demchok,” he stated. “With the task of disengagement completed, it is now our expectation that discussions would commence in regard to the remaining issues that we had placed on the agenda.”
He added that India expects discussions on remaining issues to begin soon, underlining three key principles: respecting the LAC, refraining from altering the status quo unilaterally, and honoring previous agreements in full.
Jaishankar’s remarks came weeks after the Indian and Chinese militaries concluded troop disengagement at the last standoff points in eastern Ladakh, marking the end of a four-year face-off. He noted that the focus now shifts to de-escalation, which involves addressing the troop buildup along the LAC, and strengthening border management based on recent experiences.
He added that India expects discussions on remaining issues to begin soon, underlining three key principles: respecting the LAC, refraining from altering the status quo unilaterally, and honoring previous agreements in full.
Jaishankar’s remarks came weeks after the Indian and Chinese militaries concluded troop disengagement at the last standoff points in eastern Ladakh, marking the end of a four-year face-off. He noted that the focus now shifts to de-escalation, which involves addressing the troop buildup along the LAC, and strengthening border management based on recent experiences.
“The conclusion of the disengagement phase now allows us to consider other aspects of our bilateral engagement in a calibrated manner, keeping our national security interests first and foremost,” the External Affairs Minister said.
He also addressed the historical boundary issues, including China’s occupation of 38,000 sq km in Aksai Chin post-1962 and Pakistan’s illegal cession of 5,180 sq km to China in 1963. Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to finding a fair and reasonable boundary settlement through dialogue.
He also detailed the government’s approach post-Galwan Valley clashes in 2020, stating that normal interactions with China were untenable.
“We made it clear that the relationship’s development depends on mutual sensitivity, respect, and interests,” he said, reiterating that peace along the border is foundational for broader ties.
On the October 21 agreement with China regarding Depsang and Demchok, Jaishankar explained that recent understandings had addressed obstructions to patrolling and access issues for nomadic communities. Patrolling activities have resumed under agreed protocols.
He also referred to the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinpingon the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in Kazan, Russia, following the October 21 agreement.
“They welcomed the understanding and directed the foreign ministers to meet and stabilise and rebuild the relationship,” Jaishankar said. “The Special Representatives are also to oversee the management of peace and tranquility besides exploring a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question. In pursuance of that, I recently held discussions with FM (Chinese Foreign Minister) Wang Yi again on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18, 2024.”
He stated that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also met his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the margins of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)Defence Ministers (ADMM+) meeting in Vientiane on November 20.
“The two Ministers discussed progress on the recent agreement on disengagement, the need to address de-escalation and the requirement of strengthening confidence building measures,” the External Affairs Ministeer said. “They agreed on the importance of continuing meetings and consultations at various levels.”
Jaishankar credited the Indian armed forces for their swift and effective response to the 2020 stand-offs, even amid logistical challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforcing India’s firm stance on ensuring peace and tranquility in its border areas.
