As a long-running border dispute between India and China flares up again with heated rhetoric on both sides in recent days, India's External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, says that returning stability on that front is needed before the relationship between the two Asian giants can move forward.
In his first public remarks since the latest verbal sparring over Arunachal Pradesh which China claims as Zangnan as part of South Tibet following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of a tunnel there earlier in March, Dr Jaishankar says India is "today trying to find a way".
"And it's not easy. I have myself invested, you know, a great deal of effort with my counterpart (in China). And at the military commanders level, at the diplomatic level, we've had 20-plus rounds of talks." Speaking at a lecture organised by the National University of Singapore's Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) here on March 23, he makes clear that the territorial spat will not be resolved in a hurry.
But a necessary initial step is to find a way to return to the "peace and tranquillity" on the border that had existed for 45 years, after India's loss of four soldiers in 1975.
The two countries have entered into various bilateral agreements between 1993 and 2013 to prevent the situation from escalating.
This story is from the March 24, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 24, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
DEFENCE BEHIND BOSTON'S SUCCESS
Celtics on track for record 18th title; youthful Thunder continue to rumble to take lead in semis
A BETTER TOMORROW LOOMING
Stablemates Fast And Fearless and Fountain Of Fame also well
UOB QI profit down 2% amid drop in net interest margin
UOB had a muted start to 2024 as its margins from interest rates dropped, even as loans picked up pace and fee income rose.
US said to have revoked Qualcomm, Intel licences for exports to Huawei
The United States has revoked licences that allowed companies including Intel and Qualcomm to ship chips used for laptops and handsets to sanctioned Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei Technologies, three people familiar with the matter said.
Mexico City wins Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize
Mexico City has been named the winner of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2024.
MOH limited in what it can do on Cordlife customer refunds: Janil
He says Govt is not party to contracts for a private service and cannot overstep law
Bill to extend regulatory control over key transport firms passed
It will not create major compliance costs or interfere in commercial decisions: Minister
ERP 2.0 early adopters can reposition unit to driver's side for free: Chee Hong Tat
Motorists who have had the nextgeneration Electronic Road Pricing system (ERP 2.0) on-board units (OBU) installed in their vehicles as at May 2 can reposition the processing units from the passenger's footwell to the driver's footwell for free if they wish, said Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.
Baltimore bridge collapse: Body of final victim found
The body of the sixth and final victim who died in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was found on May 7, officials said, bringing to a close a difficult salvage mission after the United States' deadliest bridge collapse in more than a decade.
Porn star testifies about sex with Trump, hush money payout
His lawyers attack her credibility but their request to seek a mistrial gets denied
