New Delhi: Against the backdrop of the long-running military standoff in eastern Ladakh, India on Thursday once again made it clear that normalizing the country’s relations with China would require restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas. Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a three-year standoff at some friction points in eastern Ladakh even as both sides have completed disengagement from several areas after extensive diplomatic and military talks.
“Restoration of normalcy in our relations will require restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas, which have been disturbed since April 2020,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a media briefing. Bagchi was asked to comment on a Chinese diplomat’s remark that the situation in the India-China border areas is stable.
Bagchi said, “As the foreign minister said, the presence of a large number of troops there in violation of agreements is an abnormality. We have been discussing diplomatic and military tracks.”
The MEA spokesperson said that until there is a return of peace and tranquility in the border areas, “we cannot expect normalcy in overall relations.” Asked about the date for the next round of military talks between the two countries, Bagchi said it would be informed after it is finalised.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said last month that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh remained “very delicate” and in military assessment “quite dangerous” due to the close deployment of troops on both sides in some areas. Substantial progress has been made in the disengagement process in many areas.
India says that until there is peace in the border areas, its relations with China cannot be normal. Asked about China renaming some places in Arunachal Pradesh, Bagchi asserted that the state is an integral part of India and giving “invented” names does not change this reality. He also referred to India’s statement on the matter issued on Tuesday.
Bagchi had said, “Arunachal Pradesh is, is and always will be an integral and inseparable part of India. Attempts to give invented names will not change this reality.” Asked about criticism of efforts to recognize Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India and to advance territorial claims by renaming places, Bagchi said New Delhi’s position does not depend on whether it is for or against Is.
On Sunday, Beijing announced the Chinese names for 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh, which the neighboring country claims to be the “southern part of Tibet”. This was the third batch of standardized geographical names for Arunachal Pradesh issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China.
The first batch of standardized names of six places in Arunachal Pradesh was released in 2017 while the second batch of 15 places was released in 2021.