News

India-China relations are at their most difficult phase: Jaishankar

Published

5 years ago

2020/12/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

BY S VENKAT NARAYAN Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, December 9:

India-China relations are at their “most difficult phase,” External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said here on Wednesday. He was referring to relations between the two Asian giants in the aftermath of a violent clash between troops of the two sides in June this year that led to the deaths of 20 Indian and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers.

Speaking at an event organised by Australia’s Lowy Institute think tank, Jaishankar said

China had offered five different explanations for amassing heavily armed troops along its borders with India.

Ties between the neighbours had been “very significantly damaged” by the move.

Ties between the two countries have been tense since May when India detected intrusions into Indian territory by Chinese troops. The two countries share an undemarcated border, seen as the reason for the differing perceptions of where the border lies.

Scores of rounds of talks between the two countries have not yet resulted in a solution though the border was largely deemed as peaceful, except starting this summer when the tensions rose.

Responding to a question about India’s cooperation with China without giving in to Chinese coercion and demands, Jaishankar sketched out a picture of ties over the past three-four decades. The last time the two countries had had casualties on the border prior to June this year was in 1975.

Since 1988 when then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing, the direction of ties had been broadly positive with an increase in trade and tourism amongst other types of engagement, he said.

“All this was posited on the fact that while we were trying to solve the boundary question, we would maintain peace and tranquillity on the border areas …. You never had a major breach of this understanding,” the minister said. A series of agreements were signed from 1993 onwards to ensure peace and tranquillity on the borders.

So far, the Chinese side had offered five differing explanations for amassing tens of thousands of soldiers with full military preparations right up to Line of Actual Control (LAC) border in Ladakh, he said.

The deaths of 20 Indian soldiers had “completely changed national sentiment” vis a vis China in India, the minister said. “How do we get the relationship back on track, that is a very big issue.”

“We are very clear that maintaining peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control is the basis for the rest of the relationship to progress,” Jaishankar said.

“The relationship this year has been has been very significantly damaged,” he said.

“We are very clear that maintaining peace and stability along the LAC is the basis for the rest of the relationship to progress,” he added.

On the ascent of Chinese President Xi Jinping up the power ladder and China’s rise in the world, Jaishankar said “there has been an evolution in China.”

“You have today a China whose engagement with the world is very different from the way it used to be conducted 20 years ago. You could argue that it is natural that as a country goes up the power hierarchy its behavioural pattern would change. I reserve comment on it. But clearly no question, you have a more nationalistic China. And that is expressed down the line in a variety of ways and often in policies as well,” he said.

On India-Australia ties, the Indian minister said that in the current context of a multipolar world, countries need to look “beyond old habits and established structures.”

“There is a requirement today of a lot of other countries with more capabilities to contribute to the shaping of the global order to ensure the global good, to secure the global commons,” he said.

Countries with converging interests and shared values who relate to each other in various ways could do a lot together not only between themselves but also in their respective regions and the rest of the world, he added.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the day time

Published

29 mins ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 04 May 2026, valid for 05 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on the human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Latest News

Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]