We must stand up to China, says External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar

New Delhi: The situation on Chinese border and bilateral relations with China, cannot be viewed separately. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said in clear words that effect on the trade with China is natural, given the Chinese aggression at the border. He issued a stern warning to China, saying that India will have to stand tough to confront China. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar indicated that India would not be easing the pressure exerted on China, before the next round of discussions between the Indian and Chinese military officials.

It has been 90 days, since the tension was created between India and China, on the Ladakh border and the fifth round of discussions have started, between the two countries to diffuse the tension. During the last round of talks, China had assured that it would withdraw its military from the finger four and finger six areas at Pangong Tso lake. But China has once again betrayed India. Therefore, the fifth round of talks had been cancelled. But the talks started on Sunday.

It has already been clarified that China is not willing to talk about Pangong Tso. Therefore, the Chinese deployment in the Pangong Tso region is becoming the biggest point of dispute. India also has asserted that the talks will not progress unless the Pangong Tso topic is included and China will have to withdraw the military from Pangong Tso region.

Therefore, the warning issued by Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar before the meeting becomes important. India had focussed on normalising relations with China, for the last three decades, assuming that there will be no problems on the border. This became a part of the government’s policy. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar underlined that therefore, the border tension and future relations with China are inseparable. Equating China is not an easy task. But these are testing times and India will have to stand tough for this confrontation.

Jaishankar also clarified that it is only natural that the border tension is affecting trade with China. Only two days ago, Sun Wendong claimed that if the trade relations between the countries are forcibly severed, it will cause huge losses to both. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has reprimanded China also against this background.