Jaishankar Meets Xi Jinping in First High-Level Visit Since 2020 Border Clashes
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first such high-level engagement since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. The meeting occurred alongside the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers' meeting. Jaishankar also held detailed talks with his counterpart Wang Yi, emphasizing the need for de-escalation along the border, normalizing exchanges, and avoiding restrictive trade measures. Both sides acknowledged recent progress in stabilizing ties and discussed a "far-seeing approach" to the relationship.
Unpacked:
Relations worsened after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, where soldiers from both sides died during a violent confrontation along the disputed border. This incident increased military deployments, heightened mistrust, and led to a freeze in high-level political engagement between the two countries.
Despite some progress on disengagement, the border remains tense with forward deployments by both militaries. The status quo prior to April 2020 has not been restored, and periodic flare-ups and clashes are still likely, making a full return to normalcy difficult.
This is the first high-level engagement since 2020 involving a meeting with China's President. Recent talks have focused on de-escalation, normalization of exchanges, and trade issues, while also acknowledging some stabilization in ties. Both sides are now emphasizing a need for a long-term, “far-seeing approach.”
India-China relations directly impact regional security, especially in the context of India’s concerns over China’s support to Pakistan and military cooperation between those two countries. The talks aim to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation, which is crucial for stability in South Asia.