S Jaishankar. (File photo)
New Delhi: The foreign minister, S Jaishankar, unequivocally ruled out any role for a third party in the ongoing border dispute between India and China. Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, where he attended the 8th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, on Monday, Jaishankar emphasized that the issue must be resolved directly between the two neighbouring countries.
Talking to reporters, Jaishankar highlighted the strained relationship between the two Asian giants, acknowledging that it was not in a good state. He said, “We have a problem, or, I would say, an issue between India and China. I think it is for [the] two of us to talk it over and to find a way [out].”
However, Jaishankar firmly asserted that external mediation was not the solution. He said, “We are not looking to other countries to sort out what is really an issue between India and China.”
Speaking to the press in Tokyo. https://t.co/aShYL1jcuK
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 29, 2024
The foreign minister’s remarks come amid the prolonged border stand-off in eastern Ladakh, which entered its fifth year in May.
India has consistently maintained that normalizing ties with China hinges on achieving peace in the border areas. Despite 21 rounds of corps commander-level talks between the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a comprehensive resolution remains elusive.
Jaishankar’s meeting with Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, in Laos last week reaffirmed the need for strong guidance to complete the disengagement process. The military stand-off, which began in May 2020, has seen both sides disengage from several friction points after a deadly brawl between the two armies, but a final resolution remains pending.
The Galwan valley clash in June 2020 marked the most serious military conflict between India and China in decades, significantly straining bilateral relations.
