India-China relations not normal: EAM rebuffs Chinese statement of ‘stable’ border

New Delhi/Panaji: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that he had a very frank discussion on the border issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and had made it clear to him that India-China relations are “not normal” and cannot be so if peace and tranquility in the border areas is disturbed.
Answering questions at a press conference in Panaji after the holding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, EAM Jaishankar was asked to respond to the Chinese readout of the bilateral meeting held on Thursday according to which “Qin Gang pointed out that the China-India border situation is generally stable”.
EAM said: “My understanding of what the Chinese said, I think they used the word stable, if I’m not mistaken. I don’t think that’s the issue, I think there is an abnormal position in the border areas along the boundary, and we had a very frank discussion about it.
“It’s not the first discussion; I had spoken to Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting as well (in March).
“We have to take the disengagement process forward, and I have made it clear, frankly publically as well; and what I say within the room is not different from what I say outside, which is that India-China relations are not normal and cannot be normal if peace and tranquility in the border areas is disturbed.
“I have been very, very clear about it, very consistent about it. I have not changed my position at this meeting either.”
Asked about the Chinese FM meeting with relatives of Dr. Kotnis, representatives from the India-China Friendship Associations as well as Chinese and Indian students in Goa on Thursday, the EAM said:
“I’ve answered the question… Relations today are not normal and to suggest somehow that they are, and that everything else can continue, and when the central problems are not being addressed– this won’t wash; there are issues we need to discuss, and it may be an endeavour and expectation to try and project the picture (of normalcy), but I certainly will not go along with it.”
On Thursday, EAM Jaishankar had held a “detailed discussion” with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the bilateral relationship, with the focus on resolving the outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas.
In a tweet after the around hour-long talks with FM Qin, EAM said in a tweet that the two sides also discussed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the G20 and BRICS.
The Chinese readout of the meeting said that
“China is ready to work with India to carry out bilateral consultations and exchanges, step up dialogue and cooperation within multilateral frameworks, and deepen coordination and collaboration on international and regional issues, so as to bring China-India relations back on the track of sound and stable development.
“Qin Gang pointed out that the China-India border situation is generally stable. The two sides should continue to implement the important common understandings reached between leaders of the two countries, consolidate existing outcomes, strictly abide by relevant agreements and protocols, work to ease and cool down the border situation, and maintain sustained peace and tranquility in the border areas.
“Subrahmanyam Jaishankar briefed Qin Gang on India’s views on India-China relations, noting that India and China need to strengthen cooperation in many areas. India hopes to continue to work with China to maintain peace and stability in the border areas through consultation,” it said.
On March 2, during a meeting with the Chinese FM Qin Gang in New Delhi on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, EAM Jaishankar had conveyed that the state of the bilateral relations was “abnormal” and beset by “real problems that need to be looked at”, especially the issue of peace and tranquility in the border areas.
In early April, Beijing had “renamed” 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls southern Tibet. India had rejected outright China’s attempt, and stated that Arunachal Pradesh has been and will always remain an inalienable part of India.
On April 27, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had raised the border issue during his bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart General Li Shangfu in New Delhi during which Singh categorically conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that development of relations between India and China is premised on the prevalence of peace and tranquility at the borders.
UNI

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