External Affairs Minister Jaishankar Visits China to Mend Strained Ties
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is in China for the first time in five years, marking a significant high-level effort to normalize relations strained since the 2020 border clashes. During a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing, Jaishankar noted the steady improvement in ties since October and expressed confidence in maintaining the positive trajectory. The visit, which includes an SCO foreign ministers' meeting, comes after the Chinese embassy called the Dalai Lama's succession a "thorn" in bilateral relations.
Unpacked:
The main issues were military clashes along the disputed Himalayan border, particularly in the Galwan Valley in 2020, which led to heightened tensions and a prolonged military standoff. This resulted in a sharp deterioration in diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries, with both sides reinforcing troops and infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control.
Recent steps include an agreement on border patrolling arrangements in October 2024, resumption of direct flights after nearly five years, and restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Both countries have also participated in high-level dialogues and supported cooperation within multilateral forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
China sees the Dalai Lama as a separatist and is sensitive to any foreign involvement in Tibetan affairs. India hosts the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile, and China's concerns about his succession stem from fears it could encourage separatism or foreign interference in Tibet, complicating diplomatic ties with India.
The SCO is a regional security and economic bloc that both India and China are part of. Supporting each other's leadership within the SCO provides a platform for dialogue, helps manage security concerns, and facilitates broader cooperation, offering both countries a non-confrontational space to address differences and promote stability in the region.