After the India-China border clash, efforts began towards disengagement and restore peace on both sides of the border. The efforts to defuse border tensions were somewhat resolved after a telephonic conversation between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Has China Really Withdrawn Soldiers From Galwan Valley – Chinese FM Responds
Statements were issued by both countries.
Indias Official Statement
The Special Representatives of India and China on the Boundary Question – Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor of India and H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China had a telephone conversation on 5th July 2020. The two Special Representatives had a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas.
The two Special Representatives agreed that both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas was essential for the further development of our bilateral relations and that two sides should not allow differences to become disputes. Therefore, they agreed that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquillity. In this regard, they further agreed that both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously. The two sides should also ensure a phased and stepwise de-escalation in the India-China border areas. They re-affirmed that both sides should strictly respect and observe the line of actual control and should not take any unilateral action to alter the status quo and work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquillity in border areas.
The two Special Representatives agreed that the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides should continue their discussions, including under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), and implement the understandings reached in a timely manner to achieve the above outcomes. It was also agreed that the two Special Representatives will continue their conversations to ensure full and enduring restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols.
Chinese Official Statement
On the evening of July 5, the Chinese Special Representative of the China-India Boundary Question, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the phone with the Indian Special Representative, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
Wang Yi noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and India. Our bilateral relations have withstood tests and made hard-won progress. The right and wrong of what recently happened at the Galwan Valley in the western sector of the China-India boundary is very clear. China will continue firmly safeguarding our territorial sovereignty as well as peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
As Wang Yi stressed, for both China and India, achieving development and revitalization is the top priority where we share long-term strategic interests. Both sides should adhere to the strategic assessment that instead of posing threats, the two countries provide each other with development opportunities. Both sides should pay great attention to the current complex situation facing China-India bilateral relations, and work together to overcome and turn it around as soon as possible. We hope India can work with China to guide public opinion in the right direction, keep and advance bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and avoid amplifying the differences and complicating matters so as to jointly uphold the big picture of China-India relations.
Both sides had candid and in-depth discussions over easing the current border situation and reached positive common understandings.
First, both sides agreed to follow the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries. Both believed that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas matters significantly to the long-term development of the bilateral relationship, that the boundary question should be placed properly in the bilateral relations, and that an escalation from differences to disputes should be avoided.
Second, both sides reiterated adherence to the agreements signed by the two countries and making joint efforts to ease the situation in the border areas.
Third, both sides agreed to strengthen communication through the mechanism of the Special Representatives’ Meeting, hold Meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs without interruption, consistently improve and strengthen confidence-building measures and prevent more incidents that undermine peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
Fourth, both sides welcomed the progress achieved in the recent military and diplomatic meetings, agreed to stay in dialogue and consultation and stressed the importance to promptly act on the consensus reached in the commander-level talks between Chinese and Indian border troops, and complete disengagement of the front-line troops as soon as possible.
Indian Opposition Questions The Statement
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi surrounded the Indian government with questions. In this tweet, Gandhi asked three questions while sharing a screenshot of the statement of both the countries.
National interest is paramount. GOI's duty is to protect it.
Then,
1. Why has Status Quo Ante not been insisted on?
2. Why is China allowed to justify the murder of 20 unarmed jawans in our territory?
3. Why is there no mention of the territorial sovereignty of Galwan valley? pic.twitter.com/tlxhl6IG5B— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 7, 2020
1. Why has Status Quo Ante not been insisted on?
2. Why is China allowed to justify the murder of 20 unarmed jawans in our territory?
3. Why is there no mention of the territorial sovereignty of Galwan valley?
On the statement issued by both the countries, the BBC spoke to Nirupama Rao, former foreign secretary of India. Nirupama does not believe that there is any dispute in the statements. Nirupama Rao is also writing a book on India-China relations.
Rao said – It is true that after a long conversation between the representatives of the two countries, no common statement was issued. Both countries need to work closely to improve the conditions on the border.
