In a recent address during the Chanakya Defence Dialogue at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi gave a candid assessment of India’s current stance and strategic approach towards China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

His remarks shed light on the multifaceted relationship between the two neighboring countries, emphasizing the need for a balanced strategy of cooperation, and coexistence.

General Dwivedi highlighted the complex nature of India’s relationship with China, stating, “As far as China is concerned, it has been intriguing our minds for quite some time. With China, you have to compete, cooperate, coexist, confront, and contest.”

Addressing the current status of the border situation, General Dwivedi remarked, “So what’s the situation today? It’s stable, but it’s not normal and it’s sensitive.” The General emphasized the importance of restoring the situation to its pre-April 2020 state, which includes addressing issues related to ground occupation, buffer zones, and patrolling arrangements.

He stated, “We want the situation to be restored back to what it was before April 2020, whether in terms of the ground occupation situation or the buffer zones which have been created or patrolling which have been kind of planned as of now.”

General Dwivedi assured that the Indian Army remains vigilant and ready to respond to any developments along the border. “So until that situation is restored, as far as we are concerned, the situation will remain sensitive and we are fully operationally prepared to face any kind of contingency,” he affirmed.

The Erosion of Trust

One of the most poignant points made by General Dwivedi was regarding the erosion of trust between the two nations. “Trust has become the biggest casualty,” he noted, highlighting a significant challenge in the bilateral relationship. The loss of trust complicates diplomatic efforts and necessitates a cautious and measured approach in future engagements.

“Trust has become the biggest casualty”

Chief of Indian Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi.

The Army Chief’s statement followed Beijing’s assertion that the gap between the two nuclear nations had “narrowed.” Beijing also mentioned achieving “some consensus” on troop disengagement from friction points to resolve the standoff in eastern Ladakh. The Chinese Defence Ministry indicated that both sides agreed to continue dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable resolution soon.

On September 12, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a similar statement saying that about 75% of the disengagement issues with China along the LAC have been resolved. He highlighted the increased militarization of the eastern Ladakh frontier as a significant concern. Speaking at a think-tank in Switzerland, Jaishankar noted that the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020 impacted the entirety of India-China relations, emphasizing that border violence affects overall ties. He mentioned ongoing negotiations to resolve the issues and expressed hope that a resolution would lead to peace and open up new possibilities for the relationship.

“Now those negotiations are going on. We made some progress. I would say roughly you can say about 75 per cent of the disengagement problems are sorted out,” he said at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.

NSA Ajit Doval meets with Chinese FM

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval recently met with Chinese FM, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the BRICS National Security Advisers meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides agreed to finding a resolution to the ongoing issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). They emphasized that it is important to create stable conditions to nurture bilateral relations.

Doval underscored the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as a prerequisite for normalizing bilateral relations. He stressed that both countries must adhere to the agreements and protocols established over the years.

Both sides agreed to work with urgency and redouble their efforts to realize complete disengagement in the remaining areas.