India has launched a massive diplomatic offensive to corner China globally. As part of this diplomatic mission, India and the United States (US) discussed Chinese misadventure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as well as its “destabilising activity” in the South China Sea.
As reported by The Daily Guardian, India now has put its diplomatic mission on fast-track mode to expose and corner China. In what is being seen as a significant step in that direction, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and his American counterpart Michael R. Pompeo discussed what they called “destabilizing actions” in the region. According to sources, Jaishankar and Pompeo discussed destabilizing actions by China in a long phone call.
Sources said Chinese activities resulting in military stand-off along LAC figured during the talks between both the leaders. S Jaishankar broadened the scope of talk including “destabilizing actions” of China in the vicinity of Taiwan as well as in the South China Sea. Sources say Pompeo expressed concern over Beijing’s approach to the South China Sea.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is said to have briefed Jaishankar on how his country is dealing with China on this contentious issue. While discussing the updates on the fight against Covid-19, both the leaders shared data and other necessary inputs pertaining to what has been done so far to tackle the pandemic in their respective countries. However, EAM Jaishankar used the opportunity to stress the need to take China to task for its misdeeds leading to border conflagration between New Delhi and Beijing. Sources said the US is extremely supportive of India on this issue. “China has begun to feel the heat,” said an official privy to what transpired between Jaishankar and Pompeo.
Jaishankar did not forget to give a message to Pakistan at the same time. He supported the US mission of restoring peace in Afghanistan. It goes without saying Pakistan is averse to India being active in Afghanistan. But Pompeo’s tweet had a message for Islamabad and Rawalpindi as well as China.
“We remain united to advance peace in Afghanistan, and to a secure and sovereign IndoPacific in which all countries can prosper,” Pompeo said in a tweet. Pompeo assured India of American role in the India ban on Chinese apps in retaliation for the Galwan clashes.
MEA sources informed that this kind of conversations between Jaishankar and Pompeo will be more frequent. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will be following up on the same.
According to sources, Washington has started giving a strong message to Beijing. US Defence Minister Mark Esper has warned Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe in a phone call about escalating risks over Taiwan and South China Sea. Mike Pompeo had also given a tough message to Chinese state leader Yang Jiechi during a meeting in Hawaii.
Sources said that India has inputs that Esper expressed concern about the Chinese military’s destabilising activity in the vicinity of Taiwan and SCS. He called on China to honour international obligations as well as share.