15-7-2023 (JAKARTA) China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed the importance of stabilising bilateral ties between China and India during a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the sidelines of Asean meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Chinese foreign ministry issued a readout of the meeting, stating that mutual support is needed instead of suspicion.
The two Asian neighbours share a 3,800-km (2,360-mile) border, much of which remains poorly marked. They fought a brief but bloody war over the border in 1962. While ties improved in the 1990s with a series of border agreements, tensions escalated in 2020 following a border clash that resulted in casualties on both sides. This led to the fortification of positions and the deployment of a large number of troops and equipment by both militaries.
Multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks have helped ease tensions, but India has described the situation on the border as fragile and dangerous. During the meeting, Wang emphasised the need for China and India to work together in finding a mutually acceptable solution to border issues. He encouraged mutual support and cooperation rather than undermining or suspecting each other.
Wang urged both countries not to let specific issues define their overall relationship and highlighted the importance of finding common ground. The Chinese foreign ministry announced that the next round of military commander-level talks on border issues will be scheduled soon.
Since 2020, India has also increased scrutiny of Chinese businesses, banning over 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok, and tightening regulations on Chinese investments. Wang called for a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies in India.
The meeting between Wang and Jaishankar underscores ongoing efforts to ease military tensions and improve bilateral relations between China and India.
