Indo-China relations worsen with time
Indian PM Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this year Picture: PTI
The recent months have marked escalations and de-escalations in Indo-China relations which saw another act of reported aggressions on both sides.
In a new development in Indo-China relations, stone throwing between soldiers of the two Asian giants has been reported. This incident, which took place earlier this week, occurred at a large lake in Ladakh toward northern India, along the Indo-China border. It has come as yet another trouble at the border between the neighbours who have seen a stand-off in the past few weeks. As tensions grow, various other governments such as the US have urged both counties to go in for talks over potential resolution on these issues.
In recent times, even as India’s vocal opposition and aggression towards Pakistan remains marked, the country’s tiffs with China are visibly increasing. India’s warmth and support for the Dalai Lama, rejection of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ multilateral project as well as border aggression in crucial areas has seen discourse in India as well as China turning hostile. Media reports in both countries indicate that actions on either side of the border are provoking calls for strict action even as official diplomatic channels have yet refrained from a full blown confrontation.
Indian forces, whose reported presence at a disputed territory between Bhutan and China sparked off what is being considered the recent heightening of tensions, involving a third party in the mix. Earlier this week, the reports of minor injuries on both the Indian and Chinese side beside the famed Pangong Lake of Ladakh, which were a result of stone pelting by soldiers on the respective sides of the border. Reports in India suggested these activities were carried out to prevent the Chinese troops from entering into the Indian territory.
However, China has thus-far stated being unaware of the occurrence of this event. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hu Chunying said, “I am not aware of the information.” She said the PLA troops always patrol along the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). “The Chinese side is committed to peace and tranquility of the China-India border,” she said. “We urge the Indian side abide by the LAC and relevant conventions between the two sides.”
US urges dialogue
It has been reported that the US, immediately after reports of the new developments in Indo-China relations poured in, made a comment directed towards both countries. It has suggested that both countries should consider the path of dialogue in these conflicts. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert was quoted at a news conference, “We are encouraging both parties to sit down and have a direct dialogue.”
Even as Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has undertaken countless overseas diplomatic exercises, he has so far not shown any inclination to confront China, even in a dialogue. The occasional ban-Chinese goods and boycott calls for products from the country made by netizens have played out but Indian officials haven’t yet entertained the diplomatic channel of negotiation in an increasingly volatile situation.
