India-China Relationship Truly At Crossroads, Ladakh Standoff Profoundly Disturbed Ties: EAM Jaishankar

Elaborating on eight points for moving forward in bilateral ties, the external affairs minister said agreements already reached on management of the LAC must be adhered to in their entirety and in letter and spirit.

India-China Relations: In a curt message to China at the 13^th All India Conference of China Studies, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the terms between the two countries is truly at the crossroads. He emphasised that the choices that are made now, will have “profound repercussions” not just for the two countries but for the entire world.

His statement comes as the stalemate at the LAC has entered eighth straight months with no breakthrough in talks even after several rounds of dialogue.

“For all the differences and disagreements that we may have had on the boundary, the central fact was that border areas still remain fundamentally peaceful. Last loss of life at India-China border before 2020 was as far back as 1975,” Jaishankar said.

He asserted that in the years that passed, no significant progress on arriving at a common understanding of the alignment of LAC in India-China border areas was seen and at the same time, there was also increasing construction of border infrastructure, especially on the Chinese side.

“That is why the events in Eastern Ladakh last year have so profoundly disturbed the relationship because they not only signalled a disregard for commitments about minimising troop levels but also showed a willingness to breach peace and tranquillity,” Jaishankar said.

He also said that the tensions brewed over the last couple of years. “For the last 3 decades, interactions & exchanges grew steadily in some areas. China became one of our largest trading partners, a significant source of investment, a participant in projects & infrastructure building & a very substantial destination for tourism & education,” he said.

Elaborating on eight points for moving forward in bilateral ties, the external affairs minister said agreements already reached on the management of the LAC must be adhered to in their entirety and in letter and spirit. "Whether handling of the border areas is concerned, the Line of Actual Control must be strictly observed and respected. Any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo is completely unacceptable," he said.

While both nations are committed to a multi-polar world, Jaishankar said, there should be a recognition that a multi-polar Asia is one of its essential consequences.