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NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar has characterised the relationship between India and China as being in an “unusual state” since the 2020 Galwan clash, suggesting that this is a possibly long-term issue. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Jaishankar emphasized that when the world’s two largest countries experience such tensions, it has consequences for the global community.
Jaishankar remarked that there are both immediate and possibly long-term issues at play in the India-China relationship.
“I was the ambassador in 2009, right after the global financial crisis, till 2013. I saw the change of guard in China, and then I came to the US. It has never been an easy relationship. It always had its share of problems,” Jaishankar said
Jaishankar pointed out the challenge of dealing with China, as they often do not provide clear explanations for their actions, leaving others to interpret their intentions. He stated, “One of the complexities of engaging with China is that they rarely offer explicit justifications for their actions. Consequently, we frequently find ourselves attempting to decipher their motives, which can be quite ambiguous.”
“If we look at the past three years, our relationship has been far from normal,” Jaishankar added. “Contacts have been disrupted, official visits have been suspended, and we are currently experiencing a high level of military tension. All of this has also had a negative impact on how China is perceived in India.”
He provided a historical perspective, noting that relations between Delhi and Beijing have always been challenging. He mentioned the 1962 war and subsequent military incidents but pointed out that since 1975, there had been no combat fatalities on the border. In 1988, India took steps to normalize the relationship when then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China.
Jaishankar also highlighted the agreements made in 1993 and 1996 to stabilize the disputed boundary, including rules about troop levels and behavior in the border areas. However, he noted that the situation changed in 2020 when Chinese troops moved toward the Line of Actual Control, leading to a tense standoff.
Jaishankar said the Chinese side gave different explanations at various points of time but none of them are really tenable. “And since then, we have been trying to disengage.” “We have been partially successful,” the minister added.
The minister emphasized that these developments have had a profound impact on the India-China relationship, making it challenging to return to a normal state of affairs.
Jaishankar also underscored India’s unique position as one of the few countries capable of bridging the significant East-West polarization and the deep North-South divide.
He remarked, “A notable contradiction, evident at forums like the G20, is the increasingly pronounced East-West polarization, primarily triggered but not limited to the conflict in Ukraine. Concurrently, there exists a profound North-South divide, amplified significantly by the Covid-19 pandemic. I would assert that India stands as one of the select nations with the capacity to effectively mediate both of these challenges.”
Furthermore, he highlighted India’s growing participation in various international groupings and alliances over the past decade.
“It’s worth noting the evolution over the last decade. India has gained membership in numerous international organizations. For instance, the QUAD, initially formed in 2008, was revitalized in 2017 and has steadily progressed, reaching the level of a presidential summit in 2021,” the minister said.
(With inputs from agencies)
Jaishankar remarked that there are both immediate and possibly long-term issues at play in the India-China relationship.
“I was the ambassador in 2009, right after the global financial crisis, till 2013. I saw the change of guard in China, and then I came to the US. It has never been an easy relationship. It always had its share of problems,” Jaishankar said
Jaishankar pointed out the challenge of dealing with China, as they often do not provide clear explanations for their actions, leaving others to interpret their intentions. He stated, “One of the complexities of engaging with China is that they rarely offer explicit justifications for their actions. Consequently, we frequently find ourselves attempting to decipher their motives, which can be quite ambiguous.”
“If we look at the past three years, our relationship has been far from normal,” Jaishankar added. “Contacts have been disrupted, official visits have been suspended, and we are currently experiencing a high level of military tension. All of this has also had a negative impact on how China is perceived in India.”
He provided a historical perspective, noting that relations between Delhi and Beijing have always been challenging. He mentioned the 1962 war and subsequent military incidents but pointed out that since 1975, there had been no combat fatalities on the border. In 1988, India took steps to normalize the relationship when then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China.
Jaishankar also highlighted the agreements made in 1993 and 1996 to stabilize the disputed boundary, including rules about troop levels and behavior in the border areas. However, he noted that the situation changed in 2020 when Chinese troops moved toward the Line of Actual Control, leading to a tense standoff.
Jaishankar said the Chinese side gave different explanations at various points of time but none of them are really tenable. “And since then, we have been trying to disengage.” “We have been partially successful,” the minister added.
The minister emphasized that these developments have had a profound impact on the India-China relationship, making it challenging to return to a normal state of affairs.
Jaishankar also underscored India’s unique position as one of the few countries capable of bridging the significant East-West polarization and the deep North-South divide.
He remarked, “A notable contradiction, evident at forums like the G20, is the increasingly pronounced East-West polarization, primarily triggered but not limited to the conflict in Ukraine. Concurrently, there exists a profound North-South divide, amplified significantly by the Covid-19 pandemic. I would assert that India stands as one of the select nations with the capacity to effectively mediate both of these challenges.”
Furthermore, he highlighted India’s growing participation in various international groupings and alliances over the past decade.
“It’s worth noting the evolution over the last decade. India has gained membership in numerous international organizations. For instance, the QUAD, initially formed in 2008, was revitalized in 2017 and has steadily progressed, reaching the level of a presidential summit in 2021,” the minister said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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