India China Relations: There is a dispute between India and China over Ladakh. The reason behind this has been given by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He has said that China does not follow the agreements.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on deteriorating relations with China (S Jaishankar on India China Issue)
S Jaishankar on China: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said that over the past one year, there has been a lot of concern about India-China relations as Beijing is not adhering to agreements on the border issue, due to which the foundation of bilateral ties has been “disturbed”. Responding to a question about India-China relations at the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow, Jaishankar said, “I would like to say that for the last forty years our relations with China were very stable.” China emerged as the second largest trading partner.
Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit, further said, ‘But for the past one year, there has been a lot of concern about this relationship because of the agreements made regarding our border (India China Relations Border Dispute). China did not follow them. He said, ’45 years later, there was actually a clash on the border and soldiers were killed in it. And for any country, the tension of the border, peace there is the foundation of relations with the neighbor. That is why the foundation has been disturbed and so is the relationship.
Soldiers retreated in February
There was a military standoff between India and China at several places in eastern Ladakh since the beginning of May last year (India China Relations Current Affairs). In February, after several rounds of military and diplomatic talks, both sides withdrew their troops and weapons from the north and south shores of Pangang Lake. Talks are still going on between the two sides to take forward the process of withdrawing troops from the disputed sites. India is placing special emphasis on the withdrawal of troops from Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.
Thousands of soldiers from both sides deployed
According to army officials, around 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers from each side are currently deployed in sensitive areas located at high altitudes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). There is no progress in the withdrawal of troops from the rest of the disputed sites as the Chinese side has shown no leniency in its stance in the 11th round of military talks (India China Bilateral Relations). Responding to a question on the possibility of a nuclear arms race between the two countries, Jaishankar dismissed it saying that the development of China’s nuclear program is on a much larger scale than that of India.
Denial of nuclear arms race
He said, ‘I do not believe that there is a nuclear arms race between India and China. China became a nuclear power in 1964, while India in 1998. In his speech ahead of his bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Jaishankar also emphasized that on the political front, it is necessary for India and Russia to work together to ensure the stability and diversity of the world. In an indirect reference to China, he said, “This includes emphasizing on respecting agreements and obeying laws.”
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