‘Quite harmful and really fragile’: EAM Jaishankar on China scenario alongside LAC in japanese Ladakh

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The scenario alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC)in japanese Ladakh remained “very fragile” and is “quite dangerous” in navy evaluation due to shut deployments of troops from either side in some pockets although substantial progress has been made within the disengagement course of in lots of areas, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar mentioned on Saturday.

Jaishankar additionally mentioned that he and former Chinese international minister Wang Yi had reached an in-principle settlement in September 2020 on easy methods to resolve the problem and that it’s for China to ship on what was agreed to.

In an interactive session on the India Today conclave, the exterior affairs minister additionally made it clear that the connection between the 2 nations cannot return to regular till “these problems” are sorted out.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a standoff for the previous three years at sure friction factors in japanese Ladakh whilst the 2 sides accomplished disengagement of troops from a number of areas following in depth diplomatic and navy talks.

“This is a very, I would say, challenging and abnormal phase in our ties with China. Why I say that is because from 1988 when Rajiv Gandhi went there till 2020 the understanding was that peace and tranquillity on the border would be maintained,” Jaishankar mentioned.

The exterior affairs minister additionally referred to agreements between the 2 sides to not deliver massive forces to the border, including a “very specific” set of understandings and even protocols had been put in place on the dealing with of assorted conditions.

ALSO READ | India misplaced entry to 26 out of 65 Patrolling Points in japanese Ladakh

Jaishankar mentioned the Chinese violated the agreements in 2020 and the results had been seen within the Galwan Valley and different areas as nicely. “We have deployed our troops, we have stood our ground and the situation to my mind still remains very fragile because there are places where our deployments are very close up and in military assessment, actually therefore, quite dangerous,” he mentioned.

“Now we have made substantial progress when it comes to disengagement in many areas. There are many areas where we have ongoing discussions. It is a painstaking job and we will do that,” he mentioned.

“We have made it very clear to the Chinese that we cannot have a breach of peace and tranquillity, you can’t violate agreements and then want the rest of the relationship to continue as though nothing happened. That’s just not tenable,” Jaishankar added.

The minister’s feedback got here a day after Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande mentioned that the scenario alongside the LAC is secure however there’s a must preserve a “very close watch” on it.

In his remarks, the exterior affairs minister additionally referred to his assembly together with his new Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 international ministers’ assembly in Delhi on March 2.

“My most recent encounter in this regard was with the new foreign minister Qin Gang when the G20 foreign ministers meeting took place and we had a long discussion about it. In September 2020, Wang Yi and I had an in-principle agreement on how to resolve it. So the Chinese have to deliver on what was agreed to and they have struggled with that,” he mentioned.

ALSO READ | India’s engagement with China ‘complicated’: MEA

Asked why the Chinese facet is struggling to ship, Jaishankar mentioned the query must be put to the Chinese facet. “That’s a question you need to ask them. I cannot answer it. Because, for me, it is very clear cut. Until these problems are sorted out, we will not return to a normal relationship. I want to make that very very clear,” he mentioned.

On February 22, India and China held in-person diplomatic talks in Beijing and mentioned proposals for disengagement within the remaining friction factors alongside the LAC in japanese Ladakh in an “open and constructive manner.”

The assembly came about beneath the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

The japanese Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent conflict within the Pangong lake space. The ties between the 2 nations nosedived considerably following the fierce conflict within the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked essentially the most critical navy battle between the 2 sides in many years.

As a results of a collection of navy and diplomatic talks, the 2 sides accomplished the disengagement course of in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and within the Gogra space.

READ MORE:

Satellite imagery reveals China constructing second bridge close to japanese Ladakh

Slew of steps to bolster border with China

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NEW DELHI: The scenario alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC)in japanese Ladakh remained “very fragile” and is “quite dangerous” in navy evaluation due to shut deployments of troops from either side in some pockets although substantial progress has been made within the disengagement course of in lots of areas, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar mentioned on Saturday.

Jaishankar additionally mentioned that he and former Chinese international minister Wang Yi had reached an in-principle settlement in September 2020 on easy methods to resolve the problem and that it’s for China to ship on what was agreed to.

In an interactive session on the India Today conclave, the exterior affairs minister additionally made it clear that the connection between the 2 nations cannot return to regular till “these problems” are sorted out.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); );

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a standoff for the previous three years at sure friction factors in japanese Ladakh whilst the 2 sides accomplished disengagement of troops from a number of areas following in depth diplomatic and navy talks.

“This is a very, I would say, challenging and abnormal phase in our ties with China. Why I say that is because from 1988 when Rajiv Gandhi went there till 2020 the understanding was that peace and tranquillity on the border would be maintained,” Jaishankar mentioned.

The exterior affairs minister additionally referred to agreements between the 2 sides to not deliver massive forces to the border, including a “very specific” set of understandings and even protocols had been put in place on the dealing with of assorted conditions.

ALSO READ | India misplaced entry to 26 out of 65 Patrolling Points in japanese Ladakh

Jaishankar mentioned the Chinese violated the agreements in 2020 and the results had been seen within the Galwan Valley and different areas as nicely. “We have deployed our troops, we have stood our ground and the situation to my mind still remains very fragile because there are places where our deployments are very close up and in military assessment, actually therefore, quite dangerous,” he mentioned.

“Now we have made substantial progress when it comes to disengagement in many areas. There are many areas where we have ongoing discussions. It is a painstaking job and we will do that,” he mentioned.

“We have made it very clear to the Chinese that we cannot have a breach of peace and tranquillity, you can’t violate agreements and then want the rest of the relationship to continue as though nothing happened. That’s just not tenable,” Jaishankar added.

The minister’s feedback got here a day after Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande mentioned that the scenario alongside the LAC is secure however there’s a must preserve a “very close watch” on it.

In his remarks, the exterior affairs minister additionally referred to his assembly together with his new Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 international ministers’ assembly in Delhi on March 2.

“My most recent encounter in this regard was with the new foreign minister Qin Gang when the G20 foreign ministers meeting took place and we had a long discussion about it. In September 2020, Wang Yi and I had an in-principle agreement on how to resolve it. So the Chinese have to deliver on what was agreed to and they have struggled with that,” he mentioned.

ALSO READ | India’s engagement with China ‘complicated’: MEA

Asked why the Chinese facet is struggling to ship, Jaishankar mentioned the query must be put to the Chinese facet. “That’s a question you need to ask them. I cannot answer it. Because, for me, it is very clear cut. Until these problems are sorted out, we will not return to a normal relationship. I want to make that very very clear,” he mentioned.

On February 22, India and China held in-person diplomatic talks in Beijing and mentioned proposals for disengagement within the remaining friction factors alongside the LAC in japanese Ladakh in an “open and constructive manner.”

The assembly came about beneath the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

The japanese Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent conflict within the Pangong lake space. The ties between the 2 nations nosedived considerably following the fierce conflict within the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked essentially the most critical navy battle between the 2 sides in many years.

As a results of a collection of navy and diplomatic talks, the 2 sides accomplished the disengagement course of in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and within the Gogra space.

READ MORE:

Satellite imagery reveals China constructing second bridge close to japanese Ladakh

Slew of steps to bolster border with China

US intel fears armed battle between India-Pakistan, India-China: Report