FOREIGN minister S Jaishankar on Sunday admitted that the ties between India and China are going through a “very difficult phase.” He said China has disregarded the agreements going back to the 1990s which prohibited bringing mass troops in the border area. He acknowledged that the lingering stand-off has not been resolved and that it was casting a shadow.
Earler speaking Jaishankar noted that it would be difficult “for the Asian century to happen if India and China could not come together.” This struck a chord in China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin echoed Jaishankar’s sentiment saying that “a Chinese leader said once if China and India cannot achieve sound development, then an Asian century cannot happen.” He said that a true Asia Pacific century or Asian century can come only when China, India and other countries achieve sound development.
Considering the two countries are only bolstering their troop presence in Ladakh, the conflict looks set to continue for now. More so, when the divergences between the two are only increasing with India getting closer to the western bloc and China becoming the principal global rival to the United States.
But the reality is that the two neighbours are far from resolving the border dispute. Going by the outcome of the multiple rounds of talks so far, it looks highly unlikely that the two countries will come to an understanding in the near future. It is true they have succeeded in resolving the stand-off along Pangong Tso lake but the stalemate along the other three points – Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra – persists. It seems unlikely to end anytime soon. And considering the two countries are only bolstering their troop presence in Ladakh, the conflict looks set to continue for now. More so, when the divergences between the two are only increasing with India getting closer to the western bloc and China becoming the principal global rival to the United States.
India wants China to go back to the status quo ante as it existed in April 2020 but Beijing is in no mood to do so. On the contrary, the People’s Liberation Army has enhanced its military profile on the border by deploying thousands of its soldiers and equipment. In recent years China has reportedly more than doubled its total number of airbases, air defence positions and heliports near the Indian border.
This has now become a high-stakes war of nerves between the two countries. However, this time New Delhi is approaching the situation very cautiously and waiting if China’s intermittent statements of reconciliation are translated into action. At the same time, there is also the realization that the complete de-escalation will be a long haul.
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