NEW DELHI, Dec 4: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in a statement in the Rajya Sabha, emphasized that peace and tranquility in border areas are crucial for the development of bilateral ties with China. He also highlighted the completion of disengagement between Indian and Chinese forces in eastern Ladakh, marking a significant step towards easing tensions.
Jaishankar stated that the full disengagement process, culminating in Depsang and Demchok, has been completed. He reiterated India’s stance on three key principles: strict adherence to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), no unilateral attempts to alter the status quo, and full compliance with previous agreements.
While acknowledging progress in various domains of India-China relations, Jaishankar stressed that recent tensions had negatively impacted bilateral ties. “The maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas is a prerequisite for the development of our ties,” he said, adding that discussions on de-escalation and effective management of border activities will take place in the coming days.
The Minister also outlined that, with disengagement now concluded, the next priority would be de-escalation, addressing the massing of troops along the LAC.
Following Jaishankar’s statement, opposition MPs sought clarifications, but the Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar, disallowed their requests, leading to a brief uproar and a walkout by opposition members.
The session continued with discussions on The Boilers Bill after the disruption.
