Brisbane: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India and China have made good progress in bilateral ties in recent times. He also said that both sides made significant progress in the disengagement process at Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Addressing the Indian diaspora on Sunday, the minister added that while the ties were disturbed between the two sides for results ‘well-known, India will now need to see the direction needed to be taken following the disengagement. It may be noted that after a series of meetings at various levels, both sides on October 21 agreed on disengagement of areas, which led to tensions in 2020. The tensions had increased after the Galwan stand-off between soldiers of the two countries, which led to the martyrdom of 20 Indian soldiers.
Other aspects of the relationship were affected’
Speaking at the event, the minister said that a large number of Chinese troops were deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), who were not there in 2020. Due to this, India too had to deploy its forces in the region. He added that because of this other other aspect of the relationship was also affected. “The disengagement is a welcome step. It will help in opening up, other steps of what could happen,” he observed.
His remark came two days after India and China completed the disengagement process at two friction points of Demchok and Depsang in Ladakh. The Indian Army resumed patrolling at these two friction points. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS summit following the disengagement decision.
Jaishankar on two-nation tour
Jaishankar, who arrived in Brisbane on Sunday on the first leg of his two-nation visit, said there are two conflicts right now, which are in everybody’s mind. While the one is Ukraine, the other one is the Middle East. India is trying to do something in both conflicts, the minister added further.
