India and China “have struck and we will see what happens,” said Donald Trump (File)
Washington:
US President Donald Trump said today that America is discussing with India and China the border standoff in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, where troops from the two countries struck.
Tensions raged between Delhi and Beijing after 20 soldiers of the Indian army were killed in violent clashes with Chinese troops on June 15. Losses have also been reported on the Chinese side, but the exact figures have not yet been released.
“It is a very difficult situation. We are talking to India, we are talking to China. They have a big problem there. They have struck and we will see what happens. We are trying to help them.” Trump told reporters outside the White House.
Given the lingering tensions, the President said last month on social media: “We have informed India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their border dispute over is raging. Thank you! “
Trump also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “not in a good mood” regarding the “great conflict” with China. However, India and China both rejected the offer and said they would resolve the problem bilaterally.
However, responding to questions about Trump’s offer, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Anurag Srivastava, said at the time: “We are engaged with the Chinese side to resolve this problem peacefully.”
Even White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Wednesday that there were no official plans from US President Donald Trump for mediating the border dispute between India and China.
Last week, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi had a telephone conversation to discuss the border. Delhi said the Chinese forces had made a “premeditated and planned” decision that had resulted in violence and loss.
