Friction along border resolved, let's go for de-escalation, Jaishankar tells China's Wang Yi

The Print

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His call to discuss de-escalation came on the back of India and China disengaging from friction points across the LAC for nine months now, following an agreement struck in October 2024. However, except for Depsang, where patrolling has been held as per schedule mutually agreed upon, other friction areas continue to remain out of bounds for regular patrols.
Even though thousands of troops continue to be positioned in forward areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Jaishankar noted that friction along the borders stands 'resolved'.
New Delhi: Stating that India and China have 'made good progress' in the past nine months towards normalization of bilateral ties, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Monday told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that both countries should now aim for de-escalation along the borders.
The clashes at Galwan in the summer months of 2020, had seen India at one point deploy an additional 68,000 troops, nearly 90 tanks and around 300 infantry combat vehicles to eastern Ladakh.
In February 2024, the two sides agreed to avoid any further massive build-up of troops in Ladakh, as reported by ThePrint. On 21 October, 2024, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that a bilateral agreement had been reached to disengage at the friction points, which set the stage for a political thaw of sorts between New Delhi and Beijing.
'We have made good progress in the past nine months for the normalization of our bilateral relations. It is a result of the resolution of friction along the border and our ability to maintain peace and tranquility there,' said Jaishankar Monday in his opening remarks during a bilateral discussion with Wang.
He added: 'This is the fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust and for smooth development of bilateral relations. It is now incumbent on us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation.'
Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to China. On Monday he is in Beijing, holding bilateral talks with the Chinese leadership including vice president Han Zheng, apart from the discussions with Wang. The Indian external affairs minister will travel to Tianjin Tuesday to attend the foreign ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
'As neighbouring nations and major economies in the world today, there are various facets and dimensions of our ties. Measures towards normalizing our people–to–people exchanges can certainly foster mutually beneficial cooperation. It is also essential in this context that restrictive trade measures and roadblocks are avoided. I hope to discuss these issues in further detail,' Jaishankar said on further normalisation of various facets of bilateral ties.
Ties between India and China had cratered following the clashes at Galwan.
Following the disengagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of the BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan last October.
This set the stage for the operationalisation of a number of bilateral mechanisms between the two neighbouring countries.
Also Read: 'Continued normalisation of ties can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes'—Jaishankar in Beijing
'Zero tolerance for terrorism'
India's National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh travelled to China last month for various SCO-related mechanisms.
Singh refused to sign a joint statement of SCO defence ministers citing the language over terrorism, and the Pahalgam terrorist attack in particular.
'Tomorrow, we will be meeting in the format of the SCO, whose primary mandate is to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism. This is a shared concern and India hopes that zero tolerance for terrorism will be strongly upheld,' said Jaishankar during his bilateral discussion with Wang, indicating India's position on its expectations from SCO.
Pakistan too is a member of the organisation, in which all decisions are arrived at through consensus. China has long supported Pakistan, especially through its exports of arms to Islamabad. In May, during the 87-hour conflict between New Delhi and Islamabad, a large part of Pakistan's defence forces relied on Chinese-made platforms to respond to India.
Nevertheless, India and China continue to engage through bilateral mechanisms to reduce tensions, with a number of confidence building measures being implemented. The first batches of pilgrims left India for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The two countries are set to resume direct air services once the technical negotiations conclude.
On the thaw in ties, Jaishankar said, 'This is best done by handling relations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity. We have also earlier agreed that differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict. On this foundation, we can now continue to develop our ties along a positive trajectory.'
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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