On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that his statement regarding 75% progress in discussions on the India-China border issue pertains specifically to troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh. He noted that India shares a “difficult history” with China, pointing out significant troop movements by Beijing to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020, despite existing agreements.
“When I mentioned that 75% has been resolved, I was referring solely to disengagement. That represents only one aspect of the larger problem,” Jaishankar explained.
He also highlighted that China’s increased troop presence during the COVID-19 pandemic and their breach of prior border agreements contributed to heightened tensions in eastern Ladakh, culminating in clashes that strained diplomatic relations.
“We have a complicated history with China. In the midst of the pandemic, despite clear agreements, we witnessed a substantial movement of Chinese forces to the LAC in violation of these accords. This escalation led to conflicts, resulting in casualties on both sides, which ultimately overshadowed our relationship,” Jaishankar stated at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York.
