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New York, United States of America (USA)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on border dispute talks with China. (PTI file photo)
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar underscored that India-China relations are crucial for Asia’s future and global multipolarity.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that India and China have had a “difficult history” and stated that despite the explicit agreements between both countries, the Chinese troops during the COVID-19 pandemic moved a large number of forces in violation of the agreements to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Talking about the ongoing border disputes between both countries, Jaishankar said that 75 percent of the issues have been resolved, however, he clarified that when he only meant “disengagement”.
Addressing the Asia Society at the Asia Society Policy Institute, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said, “When I said 75 per cent of it has been sorted out, it’s only of the disengagement. So, that’s one part of the problem. Some of the patrolling issues still need to be resolved. The next step will be de-escalation.”
India-China Relationship Key To Asia’s Future: EAM Jaishankar
The External Affairs Minister further stressed that in a “multipolar” world where change has been stretching the fabric of the global order, the key to the future of Asia as well as the world lies in the relationship between India and China.
Highlighting the rise of border disputes among both the neighbouring countries, Jaishankar said, “We have had a difficult history with China. Despite our clear agreements with China, we saw that during COVID-19 the country violated these agreements by sending a large number of troops to the LAC. It was likely that there would be an accident, and it did happen.”
“There was a clash, and a number of soldiers were killed on both side,” Jaishankar said, adding, “This in a way affected the relationship between the two countries.”
