'Not normal...': What Army chief said on India-China relations
The situation along the Line of Actual Control with China is "stable but not normal," Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said. During the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, he added that the current circumstances remain "sensitive," and India is fully prepared for any eventuality. General Dwivedi said India's objective is to restore the situation to its pre-2020 status, before the military standoff that began in May 2020, which includes returning to previous conditions regarding ground occupation, buffer zones, and patrols.
Why does this story matter?
In April 2020, China made an attempt to breach the Indian side of the de facto border, which was successfully countered by Indian forces. However, tensions remain high in eastern Ladakh and other sectors along the border with China due to ongoing efforts by China to alter the status quo. This situation has led to continued friction and heightened vigilance among Indian security personnel in the region.
Want pre-April 2020 situation: General Dwivedi
General Dwivedi said, "The situation is stable, but it is not normal and it's sensitive. If that be the case what are we wanting? We want that the situation that was there pre-April 2020 should be restored." He added that until this restoration happens, the situation will continue to be sensitive.
'Trust between India-China biggest casualty'
Last week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar characterized India's relationship with China as "very significantly disturbed," saying that normalcy cannot be achieved until the border situation is addressed. General Dwivedi noted that trust between Indian and Chinese forces along the LAC has become the "biggest casualty" of the ongoing tensions. In an effort to resolve the outstanding issues in their standoff in eastern Ladakh, India and China held two rounds of diplomatic discussions in July and August.
Multiple rounds of military and diplomatic dialogues
Since 2020, India and China have conducted multiple rounds of military and diplomatic dialogues, resulting in disengagements at several friction points. However, a complete resolution of the border dispute remains elusive. Last month, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the BRICS conclave. Both sides agreed to work with "urgency" and to "redouble" efforts toward achieving full disengagement at the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.
