In a stern message to its neighbour, China, India made it clear that there will simply be no improvement in the overall bilateral relationship until its troops disengage and de-escalate the three-year standoff in eastern Ladakh. India also summarily rejected a new Chinese plan for the restart of military-to-military engagements.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh told his Chinese counterpart General Li Shangfu that China’s “violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations”, and disengagement at the border needs to be logically followed by de-escalation, during their 55-minute delegation-level meeting.
According to a statement from the defence ministry, "categorically" told General Li that the "development of relations" between the two nations "is predicated on the predominance of peace and tranquillity at the borders."
“He added that all issues at the Line of Actual Control need to be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments,” the statement said. The deep chill in bilateral relations was also evident when Singh did not shake hands with Gen Li, as he did with his other counterparts from Iran (Brigadier General Mohammed Reza Gharaei Ashtiani), Kazakhstan (Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov) and Tajikistan (Colonel General Sherali Mirzo) in bilateral meetings with them ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet. Sources said China presented a new proposal to restart military-to military cooperation just before the bilateral meeting but it was rejected with the message that it can only be considered if the situation at the border returns to normal.
“China was told that the situation at the border is untenable. India can consider the new proposal only after the festering border issue is resolved. India wants to improve relations with China but it can happen only after peace and tranquillity are restored on the border,” a source said.