Peace demands trust, says Rajnath Singh in the presence of the Chinese defense minister at the SCO meeting


'Peace demands trust': Rajnath Singh in the presence of his Chinese counterpart

Rajnath Singh was in Moscow to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting

New Delhi:

Trust, non-aggression, respect for international rules and the peaceful resolution of differences are key to maintaining peace and security in the region whose nations are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Defense Minister said today. , Rajnath Singh. Both India and China are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO, an eight-nation regional grouping that focuses primarily on security and defense issues.

“The peaceful, stable and safe region of the SCO member states, which is home to more than 40 percent of the world’s population, requires a climate of trust and cooperation, non-aggression, respect for international rules and norms, sensitivity towards the interests of others and resolution of differences, “Singh told the SCO ministerial meeting in Moscow, which was also attended by his Chinese counterpart, General Wei Fenghe.

The two defense ministers are scheduled to meet today at 9:30 pm.

Indian and Chinese soldiers are facing each other along the mountainous Royal Line of Control in eastern Ladakh. The tension between the two nations has been simmering for months. The situation escalated rapidly after a violent clash in the Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh caused 20 soldiers to give their lives for India. More than 40 Chinese soldiers were killed or injured.

Tension also flared in the region after China tried unsuccessfully to occupy Indian territory on the southern shore of Lake Pangong five days ago. Since then, there has been a significant build-up of Chinese tank forces and infantry forces in the southern Pangong region of eastern Ladakh after the Indian army took the lead and gained control of several key heights in the area on 30 August, sources said. .

Given the range of its cannons, the Chinese artillery would be located in “deep” positions, more than 20 km from the LAC.

The situation across LAC is “a bit tense,” Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said this morning. “We have made some precautionary displays for our own safety,” he added.

Referring to World War II, Singh said that memories of that war teach the world the “follies of aggression” from one state to another, ultimately bringing “destruction” to everyone.

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, as well as the formation of the United Nations, which underpins a peaceful world, where international laws and state sovereignty are respected and states refrain from unilateral aggression to another, “Mr. Singh said.

With PTI inputs

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