Jaishankar says India seeks fair border deal with China, outlines 3 engagement principles

RESPECTING THE LAC | NOT ALTERING THE STATUS QUO UNILATERALLY | FULLY ABIDING BY PAST AGREEMENTS

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

NEW DELHI: In a detailed address to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar provided a comprehensive update on the ongoing situation in the India-China border areas and its impact on bilateral relations.

The minister highlighted several key developments and outlined the government's approach to managing these challenges. He noted that India-China relations have been strained since 2020 due to disturbances in the border areas caused by Chinese actions. However, recent diplomatic engagements have led to some improvements. Jaishankar underlined that India remains committed to resolving boundary issues through bilateral discussions.

Jaishankar articulated three key principles for engagement with China.

Addressing the territorial disputes, Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha that China continues to occupy 38,000 square kilometers of Indian territory in Aksai Chin, and Pakistan ceded 5,180 square kilometers of Indian territory to China in 1963. Despite these ongoing disputes, India remains committed to finding a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution through continued dialogue.