In what is being seen as a significant message to China ahead of the upcoming military-level talks between New Delhi and Beijing on 11 March to ease tensions in Ladakh, India on Wednesday categorically reminded China that bilateral relations can be developed only if there is peace in the border areas.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Wednesday, “India has made it clear to China that peace and tranquility in the border areas are essential for developing bilateral relations.” In another strong message to Beijing, the Foreign Secretary assertively said that India’s relations with China are currently at an all-time low.
He was addressing a training session of India’s neighbourhood at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. The Foreign Secretary was also tough on Pakistan as he said, “India’s relations with both China and Pakistan are currently at an all-time low.” He said that India desires a good relationship with Pakistan, but “it cannot be at the expense of our security”.
Sources at MEA see the foreign secretary’s remarks as part of India’s diplomatic strategy to step up pressure on China ahead of military talks between the two sides to try and resolve deadlock at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. India and China are set to hold their 15th round of military talks on 11 March to ease tensions in Ladakh, with New Delhi prepared to mount massive pressure on Beijing this time round. Sources said that the focus of military officials of India and China would be focused on outstanding issues at remaining friction points along LAC.
“We have made it clear to China that peace and tranquillity in the border areas are essential for the development of our relationship. Development of India-China relationship has to be based on ‘three mutuals’–mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest,” Shringla further said.
After the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Quad nations in Melbourne, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had given a fresh impetus to India’s aggressive diplomacy against China’s belligerence over a fortnight ago when he had slammed Beijing for “disregarding the written agreements” which were signed by both the countries to maintain peace along LAC. While addressing a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference last month, Jaishankar unequivocally said that India was having problems with China along LAC. He had said that India’s relationship with China is right now going through a very difficult phase after Beijing violated agreements not to bring military forces in the border areas.
Now, Foreign Secretary Shringla has given a strong message to China in the context of its aggression along the LAC in Ladakh region at a time when the two sides are ready to hold the next round of military discussions on the current standoff. Shringla said India is contending with geopolitical realities and “extant threats such as cross-border terrorism and crime”, and the country will be “resolute in dealing with them”. He said India will continue to expand its capacities to deal with such issues.