Peace, Tranquillity Along Border Are Critical For Good Relations With China: India

India asserted that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are critical to the overall development of its bilateral relationship with China. 

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi made the remarks on Thursday during a media briefing when asked about new Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang's comments that both sides are willing to ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

“You are aware of India's long-standing position – that maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas is critical to developing our relationship,” Bagchi said.

“Observance of bilateral agreements and refraining from unilateral attempts to change the status quo of the boundary are also important,” he added.

“As to the border issues between China and India, the status quo is that both sides are willing to ease the situation and jointly protect peace along their borders,” Qin wrote in an op-ed piece in a US-based magazine days before he became foreign minister.

For more than 31 months, India and China have been locked in a border standoff in eastern Ladakh. Following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh in June 2020, the bilateral relationship was severely strained.

India has maintained that the relationship cannot be normalised unless the border area is peaceful.

“I have a lot of faith in our armed forces to defend our territory,” Bagchi said when asked about reports that China was building in areas claimed by India.

He said that talks between India and China were taking place through military and diplomatic channels.

He explained that these are the channels through which our concerns about Chinese activities are communicated.

Bagchi added that both sides are focusing on returning to a state of normalcy and de-escalation and disengagement at the border.

Tensions between India and China have risen again after troops from both countries clashed on 9 December along the LAC at Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh.

On 13 December, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated in Parliament that Chinese troops attempted to “unilaterally” change the status quo in the Yangtse region, but the Indian Army forced them to retreat with its firm and resolute response.