On tensions with China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation on the LAC was very serious

New delhi date. 08 September 2020 Tuesday

Ahead of a possible discussion in Moscow with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday that the situation on the border with China could not be seen in isolation from the state of relations with the neighboring country. S Jaishankar will leave for a four-day visit to Russia on Tuesday. They will attend a meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization in Moscow. S Jaishankar is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

The External Affairs Minister described the situation in eastern Ladakh as "very serious" and said that "such a situation requires a lot of in-depth deliberations at the political level between the two parties." He said the state of the border cannot be seen in isolation from the state of relations.

Tensions on the LAC had risen sharply after 20 Indian military personnel were killed in clashes on June 15 in the Galvan Valley in eastern Ladakh. Chinese soldiers also had an accident but the neighboring country did not give details. According to a private US report, 35 Chinese soldiers were also killed. "If there is no peace on the border, relations will not be maintained as clearly the basis of relations is peace," he said.

Jaishankar is likely to meet with other Wangs at the SCO foreign ministers' meeting in Moscow on September 10. When asked what message he would give to his Chinese counterpart, Jaishankar said, "What I will actually tell him, it is natural that I will not be able to tell you." However, he said his stance would focus on the broader principle of maintaining peace on the border so that the whole of the relationship develops which is the flash of the last 30 years.

The Minister also spoke about the many agreements reached between the two countries on border management since 1993. He said there was a clear condition that the level of force at the border would be minimal. "If that doesn't happen, it's still a big deal," he said. This is a very serious situation since the beginning of May and requires a lot of close deliberation between the two parties at the political level. Jaishankar said that problems have been going on since time immemorial.