'China departed from 1988 consensus last year': Jaishankar says India-China relationship at crossroads

New Delhi, May 21: Stating that the relationship between 'India and China is at a crossroads', External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that the direction of bilateral ties depends on whether the Chinese side will adhere to various agreements on maintaining peace along the border.

 

 

"I think the relationship is at a crossroads and which direction we go depends on whether the Chinese side will adhere to the consensus, whether it would follow through on agreements which we worked on for so many decades because what has been very clear in the last year that border tensions cannot continue with cooperation," Jaishankar said.

 

 

Speaking at an Indian Express-Financial Times event, Jaishankar spoke on border tensions erupted along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh due to actions of Chinese army last year. He added that if there is disturbance to peace and tranquility and continuous friction on the border, it has impact on the bilateral relationship. "If you disturb the peace and tranquility, if there is intimidation, if there is continuous friction in the border, then obviously they are going to turn around the relationship," he said.

 

 

Jaishankar said that China departed from the "1988 consensus".  "What we saw last year was China departing from the 1988 consensus," the Union Minister said. It was at that time when the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi went to Beijing, 26 years after the 1962 war, and established an understanding to maintain peace at the border.

 

 

The remarks come a day after Army Chief General MM Naravane said that de-escalation along the border in eastern Ladakh is yet to take place, after the first step at Pangong Tso in February, and till that happens the entire border with China across all sectors will see enhanced troop presence.

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