India on Thursday called on China to work towards complete disengagement at friction points on the Royal Line of Control (LAC) and rejected Beijing’s claim that New Delhi’s infrastructure development and troop deployment are the root causes of tensions on the border.
The Foreign Ministry dismissed China’s stance not to recognize the state of Arunachal Pradesh and the union territory of Ladakh, saying both regions are an integral part of India and that Beijing has no locus standi to comment on such internal matters.
Statements by Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava reflected the stagnation in efforts to end the fighting in the Ladakh sector, which has entered its sixth month, and the lack of progress in troop withdrawal in sticking points after several rounds of diplomatic and military talks.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, who participated in the Bloomberg India Economic Forum online, made it clear that New Delhi was not to blame for the tensions. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, he noted that India and China had built their relationship and expanded cooperation over the past 30 years “based on peace and tranquility along the border.”
“If that underlying peace and quiet is disturbed, if the agreements signed by the two parties are not followed, it is clear that this is the main cause of the disturbance,” said Jaishankar. He added: “If you disturb the foundation of this relationship, you cannot be insensitive to the fact that it will have consequences … that problem … was not created on our side.”
China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday cited India’s infrastructure development and troop deployment as the root causes of the tensions. He also said that India should refrain from actions that could aggravate the situation.
But Srivastava said that India was creating infrastructure that improved the lives of its people. “The government pays careful and specific attention to improving the infrastructure for the development of the border areas in order to facilitate the economic development of these areas, as well as to meet the strategic and security requirements of India.” , He said.
Peace and tranquility can be restored “by scrupulously observing all relevant agreements” on border management, he added.
In response to China’s claim that it does not recognize Arunachal Pradesh and the Ladakh Union Territory, Srivastava said that both regions are an integral and inalienable part of India. “China has no locus standi to comment on the internal affairs of India. We hope that countries do not comment on the internal affairs of India, no matter how much they expect the same from others, “he said.
Srivastava described the withdrawal of troops as a complex process that requires redeployment from each side to their regular posts throughout LAC, and indicated that there will be more talks to move this process forward.
“To achieve this, the two parties will maintain the current momentum of communications based on the guidance of our leadership not to turn differences into disputes and will work towards a mutually acceptable solution for complete disconnection in all areas of friction throughout LAC and the restoration of peace. and tranquility in the border areas between India and China, “he said.
Jaishankar also told the Bloomberg India Economic Forum that the talks between military commanders and diplomats were a “work in progress.” He said: “What is happening is something confidential between us and the Chinese and we will wait to see how this unfolds.”
A key issue was whether a rising China and a rising India could find balance, and the situation at the border is an expression of “the inability to meet that challenge,” he said.
Former ambassador Vishnu Prakash described the situation in LAC as a battle of wits, with both sides waiting to see who would blink first. “The Chinese are playing chicken, as they staged a mishap with the expectation of quickly fulfilling the objective of seizing land but were surprised by the Indian response,” he said.
“They hit the pause button after realizing it was not going to be an easy ride. It is a battle of nerves as the Chinese have intensified the psychological warfare. They are also observing other events, such as the result of the US elections, ”he added.
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