LEH: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India faces a “very complicated challenge” from China, and the Narendra Modi government has taken steps to ensure no attempts are made to change the status quo in the border areas unilaterally.
This challenge was “very visible” in border areas in the last three years, Jaishankar said on Saturday, adding that both the countries have to find an equilibrium in relationship, but it cannot be on the terms of the other party.
If peace and tranquillity between the two nations is disturbed, their relationship will not remain unaffected, the minister said, delivering a talk on ‘Modi’s India: A Rising Power’ at a university in Ahmedabad.
“When I talk about big powers, of course we have a particular challenge from China. That challenge is a very complicated challenge, but in the last three years it has been particularly visible in the border areas,” Jaishankar said, apparently referring to China’s incursions in eastern Ladakh.
“There are clearly responses that are required, and those responses have been undertaken by the government. And a lot of it to ensure that no attempt is made to unilaterally change the status quo in the border areas,” he said.
The two countries will have to find some kind of equilibrium, and all the past governments in their own ways tried to find a balance, the External Affairs Minister said.
“But that balance cannot be on the terms of the other party. Then it is not a balance. There has to be something mutual,” he said.
Mutual respect, sensitivity and interest have to be the basis of the relationship, Jaishankar said.
“How can we get along long term if you don’t respect me, if you are not sensitive to my concerns, if you ignore my interest?” he said, adding that if India sees respect, sensitivity and recognition, it can think of a better relationship with China.
“But if we do not, I think we need to stand up for our rights, and we need to be firm in asserting opposition. And that, unfortunately, currently is the situation,” he said.
Talking about India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaishankar stressed on the strengthening of relationship with immediate and extended neighbouring countries.
Neighbours like Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, which have always been close to India, are today linked with us through roads, railway, waterways and electricity grid connections, he said.
