Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas with China in order to promote normal bilateral ties, ahead of his visit to the United States. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Modi affirmed India’s commitment to protecting its sovereignty and dignity, while also emphasizing the nation’s core belief in respecting sovereignty, observing the rule of law and achieving peaceful resolution of differences and disputes. He also highlighted the challenge on India’s doorstep, which revolves around its long-standing border dispute with China, known as the Line of Actual Control.
The WSJ notes that India and the US share relationships with China that have grown increasingly fraught in recent years, which in turn has caused deepening military and economic rivalries. Meanwhile, China’s Defence Ministry has remained silent in response to the publication’s request for comment sent via the State Council Information Office.
During his US trip, Modi is expected to work on a multi-billion dollar agreement aimed at boosting surveillance over the Indian Ocean and its border with China. The Prime Minister is also set to finalize plans to manufacture jet-fighter engines in India to power advanced light combat aircraft and purchase high-altitude armed Predator drones.
Since 2020, India and China have held 18 rounds of military talks to prevent the dispute from escalating into a wider conflict. India has blamed China for violating border agreements and India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, stated in early June that India and China must find a way to avoid confrontation in the western Himalayas.
Jaishankar also asserted that India wishes to improve relationships with China but this can only happen when there is peace and tranquillity on the border. In terms of the Galwan clashes, he noted India’s position as very complicated, and that normally the army is not deployed at the Line of Control, but following the 2020 attacks, both sides have undergone repositioning or ‘forward deployment’.
