Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has warned that the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is “very tense and dangerous” and that it’s in the “common interest” of both India and China not to have “that many forces” in the area. Jaishankar made the comments while speaking at an event of the Indian Express in New Delhi on Monday.
Jaishankar's Comments
“I think it’s in our common interest that we should not have that many forces on the LAC, it’s in our common interest that we should observe agreements that we have. And today, it’s not just in common interest, I believe it’s in China’s interest as well,” Jaishankar said at the event.
The EAM was responding to a question from Zhou Yongsheng, a political counsellor at the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, who asked how the two “important neighbours” could find common interests and be partners instead of rivals. The minister added that “the tension has not served either of us well.” “So the sooner we resolve it, I genuinely believe it’s good for both of us. And I’m still very much committed to finding a fair, reasonable outcome. But one which is respectful of agreements, which recognises the LAC, and doesn’t seek to change the status quo,” he said.
Talking about India's relation with China, S Jaishankar said, "They are changing, we are changing. How do we find an equilibrium?"
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) March 11, 2024
Read what happened at #ExpressAdda today 👇🏽https://t.co/JCTHGqCjZV
Response from China
In response to the comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stressed during his press conference on Wednesday that “the boundary question does not represent the entirety of China-India relations, and it should be placed appropriately in the bilateral relations and managed properly.”
Wang agreed that “an early settlement of the situation on the China-India border serves the common interests of both countries” and expressed hope that both sides will “maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels” throughout the process.
To smoothly navigate the dispute, Wang suggested that the two neighbours enhance mutual trust and avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment. “We hope that India can work with China in the same direction, follow the common understandings reached by leaders of the two countries as well as the spirit of relevant agreements [...] and find a mutually acceptable solution for relevant border issues as soon as possible,” he concluded.