S Jaisankar said China’s rise to power was natural and part of a global rebalancing.
New Delhi:
As the border standoff between India and China continued for more than six months, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said there was “cause for concern” but efforts were underway to find solutions.
In an interactive session hosted by Mumbai-based think tank Gateway House, Jaishankar said the basis for the overall growth of relations between the two countries was peace and quiet along the borders.
“Now if that is disrupted, then it cannot happen if the foundation of the house erodes or fractures and the rest of the superstructure remains unchanged. I think we are going through a time of stressful relations with China. “said Mr. Jaishankar. .
“I hope people at this end of the relationship understand the gravity of what happened,” he said.
The Minister of External Affairs also referred to a number of agreements the two countries have signed to ensure peace and quiet along the Line of Effective Control (LAC).
“We have agreements not to bring a large number of forces to the border. These are written agreements that we have observed for 30 years. If today this is violated without an explanation, without a justification offered to us, we must ask ourselves where is it going? He said.
“There is cause for concern, but it is in the nature of our work to try to find solutions,” he added.
Mr Jaisankar said China’s rise to power was natural and part of a global rebalancing.
He also said that it was the responsibility of the rising power to reflect on the world‘s reaction as well, adding that it was not enough just to stand up.
Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne said his country’s relations with China are multidimensional and complex, adding that “coercive diplomacy” was not the way to engage in the world of today.
“There are places where Canada will challenge China, like human rights and places where the two will have to coexist, like the Indo-Pacific and trade, climate change,” he said.
In his remarks, Jaishankar also made an indirect reference to the Khalistan movement which strained ties between India and Canada during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first term.
“Both nations have benefited from the talent and creativity of the Human Bridge. However, we have also seen the misuse of democratic freedoms by a small minority with medieval beliefs and a propensity for violence,” he said.
Mr. Jaishankar also said India and Canada can work together to address COVID-19 and shape the emerging world order in the post-pandemic period.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
