Despite China consolidating its positions on the border according to satellite images, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar stated on Thursday June 8 that the border conflict is not due to the invasion of Indian territory by China. China, but to the “advanced deployment” of troops to the Line of Actual Control, which could erupt into violence due to the proximity of the soldiers.
His remarks came at a special briefing on the occasion of Narendra Modi’s nine-year rule, which was dominated by questions about the India-China confrontation and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of it.
To a direct question about whether China had appropriated land due to the fighting, Jaishankar replied that the issue was “very complicated.” He pointed out that the soldiers were not usually in the LAC, but were deployed in camps before the border and then went out on patrol.
“After 2020, the change that has occurred due to the tensions is that both sides have made advanced deployment, and this is the issue that needs to be resolved,” he said.
He reiterated that the consequence of the last three-year confrontation on the border was not a “land grab.” “The question that he has raised, whether it is about land or not, is not that. The issue is advanced deployment and therefore tensions can escalate into violence, as we have seen in Galwan,” the Foreign Minister said.
His claim that there was no land grab was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier statements, made in June 2020, that there was no intrusion by anyone within Indian Territory. The Prime Minister’s statements had given rise to a controversysince in essence they meant that China was exonerated from having committed no transgressions in the Indian part of the FTZ.
In May 2020, Chinese troops were seen invading Indian territory in eastern Ladakh, leading to several clashes with Indian soldiers. Jaishankar described it as “China consciously chose in 2020 to break the agreements to move forces to the border areas and try to coerce us”.
Since then there have been 18 rounds of talks between the corps commanders that have led to a withdrawal at some four sticking points, but the strategic areas of the Depsang and Demchok plains remain unresolved.
There have been frequent reports based on satellite imagery about the buildup of Chinese military infrastructure that would allow for rapid deployment of troops.
An article published on June 2 by London think tank Chatham House analyzed six months of satellite imagery in eastern Ladakh and found that China has heavily consolidated its military presence.
“Satellite images taken in the six months since October 2022 show an increasingly changing region. Where once there were scattered People’s Liberation Army (PLA) checkpoints and rudimentary positions on the Chinese side of the poorly demarcated Line of Actual Control, there is now an established Chinese presence,” he said.
According to the article, several PLA bases can now be seen in the Galwan valley, connected by roads that go up from the main point of confrontation, following the course of the Galwan River.
His remarks came at a special briefing on the occasion of Narendra Modi’s nine-year rule, which was dominated by questions about the India-China confrontation and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of it.
It noted that there was “significant activity” in Depsang Plains, one of two remaining points of confrontation to be resolved. “The patrols appear to be seeking to pressure and prevent the development of a strategic Indian airstrip at Daulat Beg Oldi, which serves as a transport and logistics base for Indian high-altitude operations and is the highest airstrip in the world. It is a crucial support for the Indian units organized not only against China, but also against Pakistan.”
China has claimed that the Depsang and Demchok plains are legacy issues, while India insists they are part of the dispute.
India Today also reported that, based on satellite images, China has also built “military villages” in the middle sector of the ZLC.
When asked about the India Today report, Jaishankar said he had not specifically read that article, but added that “a lot of infrastructure reporting has been done in reference to the Chinese side of the CFZ.”
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The foreign minister reiterated that India wanted to improve relations with China, but it would only be possible when there was peace and quiet in the border areas.
He stated that India’s ties with all major powers have improved except China.
“The fact is that the relationship has been affected and will continue to be affected… If there is any expectation that we will somehow normalize (ties) when the border situation is not normal, it is not a well-founded expectation,” he said.
Jaishankar stressed the need for both sides to find avenues for troop withdrawal, noting that the existing stalemate is also not in China’s interest.
He stressed that the communication channels were still open, but at a minimal level.
“It’s not that communications have broken down. The thing is, with China, even before Galwan happened, we were talking to the Chinese to tell them, look, we’re seeing movements of their forces that, in our opinion, violate our understanding. The morning after what happened in Galwan, I spoke with my counterpart,” he stated.
China has claimed that the Depsang and Demchok plains are legacy issues, while India insists they are part of the dispute.
Since then, senior military and diplomatic officials have held talks through two institutionalized mechanisms to resolve the issue.
Bilaterally, then Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India last year and his successor Qin Gang traveled to New Delhi for the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting. “At multilateral events, obviously there will be a conversation,” he said.
Article republished from The Wire as part of an agreement between both parties to share content. Link to the original article: https://thewire.in/diplomacy/on-china-jaishankar-says-dispute-is-over-forward-deployment-not-about-land-grab
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