India to China: Troops must leave all friction points for peace at LAC
Jaishankar, Wang in 75-min chat, agree to set up hotline China says India ‘wavering’
India has now told China clearly that the disengagement of troops “at all friction points” in the Ladakh sector alone will lead to the restoration of peace and tranquility between the two countries, adding that “both sides should now quickly resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh” after the “successful” disengagement at the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso lake. This was made clear by India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar in a 75-minute phone call with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Thursday afternoon, when the two ministers also agreed to establish a hotline between them.
Mr Jaishankar told the Chinese minister that “bilateral relations have been impacted severely over the last year, adding — in an obvious reference to the deadly Galwan Valley clash last June — that “disturbance of peace and tranquility, including by violence, will inevitably have a damaging impact on the relationship”. But seeking to put the blame on India, the Chinese foreign minister claimed that “there has been some wavering and back-pedalling in India’s China policy, and practical cooperation between the two countries has been affected”.
Significantly, while India stepped up the pressure on China to disengage from all friction points, Beijing — in a statement put out by the Chinese foreign ministry — only said “it is imperative for the two sides to cherish the hard-won relaxation… further ease the situation and improve the border management and control mechanisms”. But China did say that “India wants more
dialogue and consultation with China to realise quick disengagement at the remaining points”.
In a statement Friday, the external affairs ministry said: “The external affairs minister and the state councillor and foreign minister of China, Mr Wang Yi, had a phone conversation yesterday afternoon. It lasted 75 minutes. The two foreign ministers discussed the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and also issues related to overall IndiaChina relations. EAM… noted that the bilateral relations have been impacted severely over last year. EAM said that boundary question may take time to resolve, but that the disturbance of peace and tranquility, including by violence, will inevitably have a damaging impact on the relationship.”
The MEA added: “Noting the completion of disengagement in Pangong Lake area, EAM emphasised that both sides should now quickly resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. EAM said that once disengagement is completed at all friction points, then the two sides could also look at broader de-escalation of troops in the area and work towards restoration of peace and tranquility… It was therefore necessary that the two sides should work towards early resolution of the remaining issues. It was necessary to disengage at all friction points in order to contemplate de-escalation of forces in this sector. That alone will lead to the restoration of peace and tranquility and provide conditions for progress of our bilateral relationship.”
In its separate statement on the conversation, the Chinese foreign minister said: “State councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi ... noted that what had led to the situation last year at the China-India boundary was clear and that lessons from the past deserve deep contemplation. There has been some wavering and back-pedalling in India’s China policy, and practical cooperation between the two countries has been affected. This does not serve the interests of either side. Decades of experiences have shown repeatedly that heightening differences does not help solve problems, and that it only erodes the basis of mutual trust.”
Beijing added: “Mr Wang said that the frontline troops of the two countries have recently completed disengagement in the Pangong Lake areas. The situation on the ground has been noticeably eased.”