75% Of Disengagement Resolved: S Jaishankar Announces Progress on India-China Boundary Issue

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, currently in Geneva, has reported significant progress in the India-China boundary dispute.

Speaking at the Global Centre for Security Policy, Jaishankar revealed that approximately 75% of the disengagement issues between India and China have been resolved.

Key Points:

Progress Update: Jaishankar confirmed that negotiations have yielded substantial progress, with about 75% of the disengagement problems addressed. However, he emphasized that there are still unresolved issues.

“Violence at the border cannot be isolated from the broader relationship. Ongoing negotiations have made notable progress, with approximately 75% of the disengagement issues resolved. However, there are still some remaining challenges to address,” he said.

Galwan Valley Clashes Impact: The 2020 Galwan Valley clashes have had a profound impact on India-China relations. Jaishankar noted that violence at the border cannot be isolated from the overall bilateral relationship.

“We hope that if there is a solution to the disengagement and there is a return to peace and tranquility, then we can look at other possibilities,” Mr Jaishankar said.

Militarization Concerns: The minister highlighted concerns over the increasing militarization of the frontier, which has complicated the disengagement process.

Diplomatic Efforts: Jaishankar is scheduled to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to Switzerland. Ongoing talks at both diplomatic and military levels are crucial for further progress.

“The foundation of a good, or even a normal, relationship has always been peace and tranquility at the border. After 1988, when things began to improve, we established a series of agreements that helped stabilize the situation,” Mr. Jaishankar said.

Historical Context: The Line of Actual Control (LAC) stretches approximately 3,500 km, with recent conflicts leading to heightened military presence and tensions along the border.

Economic and Trade Relations: Jaishankar criticized the economic relationship with China as “unbalanced” but clarified that India is open to business with China under specific terms. The Indian government has been cautious about Chinese investments and visa policies since the Ladakh standoff.

“The Chinese moved a significant number of troops to the Line of Actual Control, and naturally, we responded by deploying our own forces. This was particularly challenging for us, as it occurred during the middle of the COVID lockdown,” he said.

Flight Resumption Discussions: Discussions on resuming direct passenger flights between India and China are underway, with potential easing of restrictions being considered as disengagement progresses.