India’s Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh has accused China of eroding the “entire basis” of ties between the countries by violating bilateral agreements, a reference to a nearly 3-year-old standoff involving thousands of soldiers stationed along their disputed border in the eastern Ladakh region.
The Indian Defense Minister met with visiting Chinese Defense Minister, Li Shangfu on Thursday, April 27, 2023, and “had frank discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations,” India’s Defense Ministry noted.
Singh told Li that “development of relations between India and China is premised on the prevalence of peace and tranqulity at the borders,” and that all border issues need to be resolved in accordance with existing agreements and commitments, the ministry disclosed in a statement.
There was no immediate comment on the talks by the Chinese side.
India says the deployment of a large number of Chinese troops, their aggressive behavior and attempts to unilaterally alter the border status quo violate agreements between the countries. The violations have “Eroded The Entire Basis Of Bilateral Relations,” Singh averred.
A clash three years ago in the Ladakh region killed 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese. It turned into a long-running standoff in the rugged mountainous area, where each side has stationed tens of thousands of military personnel backed by artillery, tanks and fighter jets.
Days before Li’s visit, top Indian and Chinese army commanders held an 18th round of talks in an attempt to work out a disengagement of troops from areas of tension.
Both India and China have withdrawn troops from some areas on the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso, Gogra and Galwan Valley, but continue to maintain extra troops as part of a multitier deployment.
A Line of Actual Control separates Chinese and Indian-held territories from Ladakh in the west to India’s eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its entirety. India and China fought a war over their border in 1962.
Chinese Defense Minister, Gen. Li Shangfu is in New Delhi to attend a meeting of the Defense Chiefs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Friday, April 28, 2023. The group consists of China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Krgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
This is the first visit by the Chinese Defense Minister to India since the deadly border clashes in 2020.
According to China’s Defense ministry, Li will address the summit in Delhi and “meet with the heads of delegations from relevant countries to communicate and exchange views on the issues of the international and regional situation as well as defense and security cooperation”.
India became the Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2023.
Singh Meets Defense Ministers Of Iran, Kazakhstan And Tajikistan
Also on Thursday, Indian Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh met separately with the Defense Ministers of Iran, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
Regarding the bilateral meeting with Iran’s Defense Minister, Brigadier General Mohammed Reza Gharaei Ashtiyani, the Indian Ministry of Defense disclosed, “The meeting took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere. Both the leaders emphasized the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilizational ties between the two countries, including people-to-people connect.”
“Both the ministers reviewed the bilateral defense cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan. Further, the two Ministers discussed the development of the International North South Transport corridor to ease logistic problems to Afghanistan and other countries in Central Asia.”
India’s Ministry of Defense
In separate bilateral meetings with Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan, Colonel General Ruslan Zhaxylykov and Minister of Defense of Tajikistan, Colonel General Sherali Mirzo, the entire spectrum of defense cooperation with the two countries was reviewed, with focus on identifying avenues to expand mutually beneficial collaboration, the Ministry of Defense disclosed.
