Will Address Ongoing Issues With China Through Existing Bilateral Mechanism, India Tells US

India told the US on Friday that it will use “existing bilateral mechanism” to ease tensions with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh after American President Donald Trump offered to play mediator for the two Asian giants.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with US Secretary of Defence Mark Asper (Photo: ANI)

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday told his US counterpart Mark Esper, during a telephonic conversation that India would address the ongoing border issues with China through existing bilateral mechanisms. "During the interaction between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and American Defence Secretary Mark T Esper, the ongoing issues with China also came up for discussion. Singh told his US counterpart that India would address the issue through the existing bilateral mechanisms between India and China," informed sources told ANI. Singh on Friday held a telephonic conversation with his US counterpart Mark Esper during which the two leaders discussed "regional developments of the shared security interest." "Raksha Mantri appreciated Secretary Esper's condolence over lives lost in Eastern India during Cyclone Amphan recently and briefed him on India's relief efforts. The two Ministers also exchanged views on regional developments of shared security interest," said Defence Ministry in a release. "Rajnath Singh had a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of Defence Dr. Mark T Esper this evening at the latter's request. The two Ministers briefed each other on the respective experience of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and vowed to continue the excellent bilateral cooperation in this regard," the Defence Ministry release added. This comes in the wake of the ongoing stand-off between India and China in the Eastern Ladakh region. The two leaders also reviewed progress on various bilateral defence cooperation arrangements and "expressed their commitment" to further promote bilateral defence partnership. Singh invited Secretary Esper to visit India at the earliest mutual convenience, which the latter accepted with pleasure, said the Defence Ministry. After US President Donald Trump offered to mediate on Sino-India border stand-off, China on Friday said both sides have the ability to properly resolve problems and no "third-party" intervention is required. "Both parties have the ability to properly resolve problems between the two countries through dialogue and consultation. No third-party intervention is required," said Zhao Lijian, Spokesman, Chinese Foreign Ministry on the US President's offer to mediate over ongoing India and China border issue. The US President on Wednesday offered to "mediate or arbitrate" the raging border dispute between India and China, saying that he was "ready, willing and able to mediate" between India and China. In response to Trump's mediation offer, India said on Thursday that it is engaged with the Chinese side to resolve the border issue peacefully. With Agency Inputs