Amidst the ongoing border standoff at the Eastern Ladakh border near the Line of Actual (LAC) between Indian and PLA forces, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday listed an eight-point framework for steps China must take to repair bilateral ties with India. Speaking at the online All India Conference of China Studies, Jaishankar said the principles governing India-China ties, should have a strict adherence to all agreements on the management of the LAC, mutual respect and sensitivity, and recognizing each other’s aspirations as rising Asian powers.
The eight demands that Jaishankar put forth were as follows
- Agreements already reached must be adhered to in their entirety, both in letter and spirit.
- The LAC must be strictly observed and respected, and any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo is completely unacceptable.
- Peace and tranquillity in the border areas is the basis for development of relations in other domains. If they are disturbed, so inevitably will the rest of the relationship be.
- While both nations are committed to a multi-polar world, there should be a recognition that a multi-polar Asia is one of its essential constituents.
- Each state will have its own interests, concerns, and priorities, but sensitivity to them cannot be one-sided as relationships between major states are reciprocal in nature.
- As rising powers, each will have their own set of aspirations and their pursuit too cannot be ignored.
- There will always be divergences and differences but their management is essential to bilateral ties.
- Civilisational states like India and China must always take the long view.
Jaishankar’s eight-point agenda comes at a time when a rattled Politburo, after being dormant for 7-8 months is once again trying to stir things up at the border. Reported by TFI, Indian and Chinese troops physically clashed in the high-altitude area of Naku La in north Sikkim last week. The brawl started after Indian troops challenged the attempt by the PLA to intrude into Indian Territory.
The clash took place near Naku La, Sikkim – which in itself is indicative of the fact that as summer months approach, the paper dragon is looking to open a new front along the LAC against India. While around 20 Chinese soldiers were injured in the clash at Naku La in Sikkim, on the Indian side, four Indian Army soldiers reportedly sustained injuries. The situation at the area of the clash continues to remain volatile, yet under the firm control of the Indian Army.
Not able to gulp down the reality where New Delhi has ousted Beijing, Xi Jinping has resorted to his tried, tested and failed manoeuvre of trying to infiltrate the Indian borders. However, its not just the border where the Union government has been hurting China. Reported by TFI, TikTok, WeChat, and 59 other Chinese espionage apps were banned permanently by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
India being a world leader has put forth its demands in the most cohesive and no-nonsense way and thus the ball is in Jinping’s court now. It needs to be seen how Beijing responds to EAM’s demands.
