India-China Relations Show Signs of Improvement, Says External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar

In a statement to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar affirmed that India-China relations have improved, citing ongoing diplomatic and military engagements. Jaishankar highlighted the government's commitment to addressing outstanding issues with China, including the resolution of border concerns through recent military and diplomatic talks.

The minister acknowledged that India-China relations have been strained since 2020, when tensions escalated along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) following disruptions to peace and tranquillity in border regions due to Chinese actions. However, Jaishankar credited India's armed forces for their rapid response in countering Chinese troop movements, despite logistical challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jaishankar stated that recent diplomatic efforts had brought India-China relations back on a path toward stabilization. He underscored India’s commitment to engaging with China to establish a fair and mutually acceptable framework for boundary resolution. “In the coming days, we will discuss both de-escalation and effective management of activities in the border areas,” he said, noting that the completion of disengagement at friction points had cleared the way for broader bilateral discussions.

Addressing the issue of troop deployments along the LAC, Jaishankar identified de-escalation as the next priority. “Our immediate priority was to ensure disengagement from friction points, which has been fully achieved,” he confirmed, emphasizing that India’s national security interests would remain central to all discussions.

Jaishankar also mentioned that during his recent meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both sides agreed to convene a special representatives’ meeting and a foreign secretary-level mechanism soon. This initiative will focus on addressing the lingering border dispute while fostering broader cooperation between the two nations.

With the disengagement phase now concluded, Jaishankar emphasized the need for a sustained focus on managing border areas, drawing on lessons learned from recent tensions. He outlined three key principles that will guide India’s approach to future engagement with China, ensuring national security remains paramount while fostering diplomatic dialogue.