Latest news with #KailashMansarovarYatra
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
China must keep India's red lines in mind
Recent developments in India-China relations, including high-level meetings, suggest that ties are on the mend after prolonged estrangement caused by the bloodletting at Galwan in 2020. The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the 16th BRICS summit at Kazan on October 23, 2024, gave new direction to ties. The resumption of patrolling and grazing activities in eastern Ladakh at the remaining friction points paved the way for disengagement. During recent visits to China for SCO meetings, both Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have spoken of the need for early de-escalation in the border areas to facilitate normalisation of ties. The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this year after a gap of five years has been well-received across India. Yet several key issues remain to be addressed, such as direct flights, stationing of journalists, business visas and the issue of upper riparian river waters data. Initial statements from China after the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam had disappointed India. At the SCO defence ministers' forum in June, Rajnath Singh held firm in rejecting any document that failed to condemn cross-border terrorism. In a positive turnaround, the BRICS Joint Declaration issued following the summit meeting in Brazil, attended by PM Modi, specifically condemns the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. It censures terrorism, rejects safe havens and calls out the double standards in countering terrorism. This is the first time that a BRICS statement has specifically condemned any terrorist attack in J&K. This vindicates Modi's proactive stance on combating terrorism as well as the dispatching of all-party delegations to sensitise key nations about Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and Operation Sindoor. It should be recalled that the horrendous 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack had failed to find a place in the then BRIC Countries' Leaders Joint Statement the following year. There was only a generic condemnation of 'terrorism in all its forms and manifestations'. It was in the BRICS Leaders Declaration of September 2017 that mention was made of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad for the first time. This shows that India and China can reach a consensus on terrorism as part of a broader multilateral context. It may instil confidence at the bilateral level. In the past, China has placed technical blocks on listing Pakistan-based terrorists at the UN. However, the forthcoming SCO summit declaration may not reflect the BRICS formula on terrorism, given Pakistan's membership of the grouping. Going by the statements made by the Indian leadership in recent months, it is evident that peace and tranquillity on the border remain integral to the normalisation of ties. It took years to rebuild ties after the border war in 1962. Subsequent developments, unfortunately, belied early hopes of forging a mutually beneficial trade and economic partnership or maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Frequent tensions have only served to reinforce negative perceptions of one another. In recent years, the adverse balance of trade with China and the lack of reciprocal market access have shaped public and political opinion in India. Fresh concerns have recently arisen over restrictions placed by China on the export of rare earth magnets for EVs to India, wind turbines and electronics, besides tunnel boring machines and certain high-value fertilisers. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Communist Party of China (CPC) had a jaundiced view of India. Jawaharlal Nehru was maligned as an 'imperial lackey'. China failed to appreciate India's civilisational ethos and the value attached to peace and non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi's pacifist teachings stood in sharp contrast to Mao Zedong's advocacy of class struggle and violent means to bring about change. The CPC's Marxist lens, unfortunately, disregarded the teachings of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, which were part of China's heritage. They provided a better civilisational connect with India. Even today, Chinese assessments betray deep suspicion about India's ties with the US. Beijing views the Quad as an 'exclusive clique' that seeks to contain China. Recently, China convened a trilateral meeting with Pakistan and Bangladesh during the China-South Asia Cooperation Forum in Kunming. China's expanding footprint in South Asia lacks transparency and plays a role in widening the existing fault lines. China's 'all-weather friendship' with Pakistan has soured bilateral ties with India. The strategic cooperation with Pakistan, including in the defence and nuclear fields, is a case in point. As Operation Sindoor unfolded, Chinese analysts undertook misinformation campaigns to question India's military success and cast aspersions on its equipment and tactics. India's non-participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Beijing's three Global Initiatives is for a valid reason. The CPEC, a flagship project of the BRI, traverses Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and violates India's sovereignty. Lack of consultation and transparency in regard to China's growing presence in the region, including the Indian Ocean, is cause enough for misgivings. Equality and mutual respect should form the bedrock of bilateral relations. Respect for core concerns cannot be one-sided. China frequently seeks reaffirmation from India of the One China principle with regard to Taiwan and Tibet. The presence of the Dalai Lama in India and the succession question are viewed by Beijing as sensitive issues. Yet, Beijing has failed to reciprocate on India's core interests, whether on Jammu & Kashmir or its nexus with Pakistan. On the question of equality, it is noteworthy that China considered itself an equal of the US in the 1950s and 1960s at a time when the Chinese economy was but a fraction of what it is today. The moot question is whether China is willing to follow the same logic today in dealing with others, regardless of asymmetries in power. Perceptions matter. They play a major role in India-China relations. The positive signs in India-China relations are encouraging. The deep deficit of trust, however, calls for sustained efforts. The two sides must move forward with realistic expectations. The road ahead is arduous. Yet, forging a stable and cooperative relationship between the two Asian neighbours is a goal worth pursuing. The writer is a former ambassador and director general of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Views are personal
News18
a day ago
- News18
First batch of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims return to India via Lipulekh Pass
Pithoragarh, Jul 18 (PTI) The first batch of 45 pilgrims who went to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand returned to India on Friday after completing their pilgrimage in Tibet, officials said. Dhan Singh Bisht, in-charge of Dharchula base camp, said the group reached the 17,500-feet-high Lipulekh Pass at around 9.15 am. 'The pilgrims were scheduled to rest at Bundi camp tonight. However, due to bad weather and the risk of landslides, officials are trying to take them directly to the Dharchula base camp," Bisht said. This year, around 250 devotees are expected to travel to Kailash Mansarovar in five batches through the Lipulekh route. While the first batch has returned, the second and third batches are still in Tibet. The fourth batch will reach Dharchula base camp on August 5 while the fifth batch will be back on August 9, officials added. PTI DPT NSD OZ OZ Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India makes business like moves amid ChiPak axis
India is on the path of gradual normalisation of ties with China. The resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is likely to be followed by restarting direct flights and adoption of a new visa regime that will facilitate more travel across categories between both countries. Does this signal a strategic shift? Not really, because China's active political and military support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor is a warning on how deep this nexus runs. At the same time, Indian business is grappling with supply chain issues with China , hit also by latest restrictions on rare earth magnets, other elements and added certification requirements. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category others Project Management Data Science Leadership Others Cybersecurity MCA Artificial Intelligence Operations Management Data Science Public Policy Design Thinking Digital Marketing Technology Product Management Data Analytics CXO PGDM healthcare Degree MBA Management Finance Healthcare Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT - ISB Cybersecurity for Leaders Program India Starts on undefined Get Details At best, it's a pragmatic approach to address supply chain issues. It's important not to confuse this with any major trust reorientation that gives businesses allowance to increase their dependencies on China. The objective, on the contrary, would be to use this thaw to build alternatives without losing out in the immediate run. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Are Unstoppable: The Most Beautiful and Talented Female Athletes Even the US is trying to balance similar contradictions in its China folder, where on the one hand it recognises Beijing as its main competitor and long-term threat, but is willing to talk on securing supply chains for its industry. Even Japan and South Korea are working at ways to ease trade tensions with China. In many ways, a new China realism is at play, where there's an acceptance to deal with Beijing in recognition of its leverage in supply chains as well as its tendency to weaponise this advantage for political gains. So, if the Trump administration is looking to cut deals with China on supply of rare earth magnets, India must also guard its interests. Live Events From an Indian standpoint, there's a basis to this normalisation which flows from the improvement of the situation on the Line of Actual Control. While the de-escalation process is yet to take shape, there are reports of some thinning out of troops. This gives room for conversations on the economic side, which is needed to ensure India is not battling on multiple fronts. If India has supply chain issues, China has its own list of complaints starting with the intensive screening of its companies. It has worries about the future of investments, already locked in India before the Galwan clashes, besides issues arising from investigations into its entities by Indian law enforcement agencies. Eventually, it's about maintaining peace and tranquility on LAC because New Delhi has politically linked this to the economic conversation with Beijing . The earlier dictum, one pushed by China, was to not let differences over the LAC impact development of relations in other areas. Now, of course, the two have been linked, with India conveying constantly that differences should not turn into disputes. By this logic, a thaw on LAC should reflect progress on other fronts. The recent spate of political and official visits, including by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, signal this willingness to re-engage. What India has consciously not done is to politically link the Sino-Pak axis with the bilateral relationship. It's a threat that India will have to counter, for now, through geopolitical play with the US. After all, it's the America question that bothers China. It always wants to know what are India's plans with the US? Will it turn into an alliance against China? What's the big idea with Quad? India mostly answers back, also with the question: What is China doing with Pakistan? Both hedge, knowing well the value of the leverage they hold. Which is why the current thaw should be seen, as a strategic adjustment to buy time for Indian business to derisk supply chains, build alternatives and not a licence to integrate further.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Jaishankar's visit to China reflects a thaw in ties — there will be challenges
Five years after the military standoff between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's meetings with China's President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Liu Jianchao (head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party) signal an intent to repair the relationship with Beijing. Minister Jaishankar's visit to China this week — his first since the 2020 skirmishes — for the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, taken alongside recent instances of widening engagement, reflects a thaw in bilateral ties. Recall that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit last October, shortly after a new border patrolling arrangement was announced and a few days before the disengagement process officially concluded. Since then, NSA Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri have all visited China. Other signs that the India-China relationship has been moving in a positive direction include an understanding to expedite the restoration of direct flights and easing of visa restrictions, and resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. While Jaishankar has said that 'a far-seeing lens' should be used for rebuilding ties, some key issues remain unresolved. Post-disengagement, the de-escalation process — the withdrawal of troops from forward positions — hasn't begun at the border. China's restrictive trade practices, such as curbs on critical exports like rare earth magnets and high-tech manufacturing machinery, continue to be a stumbling block. These concerns were conveyed by Jaishankar to Wang, along with a pointed reminder that the SCO was founded to fight 'three evils': Terrorism, separatism, and extremism. At the same time, in an increasingly turbulent world order, and especially with an unpredictable occupant of the White House, re-engagement with China, or what Wang recently described as a 'cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant', is pragmatic policy. For example, the US and NATO threatening to sanction countries doing business with Russia — a move that would hit India and China hardest — underscores the need for a partnership. The fact, however, is that China continues to view its relationship with India primarily through a lens of competition, not cooperation. The most recent example is China's growing military cooperation with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The power gap is also widening. India runs a trade deficit of over $100 billion with China. The latter continues to scale up its defence budget and capabilities. China also leads in critical technologies like AI, quantum computing, and rare earths. And Beijing is steadily strengthening its influence across South Asia, luring countries strategically important to India into its own fold — Bangladesh, most recently. India must, therefore, remain vigilant. Alongside dialogue, to increase its leverage, New Delhi must focus on getting its own house in order: Accelerate economic reform, bolster technological capacity, and foster social and political unity. Some members of the Opposition have criticised Jaishankar's China outreach. His calibrated diplomacy, however, was necessary. The China question demands long-term, strategic clarity at the domestic level as well. And on the foreign policy front, New Delhi must widen its engagement across the neighbourhood and beyond, to prevent Beijing from gaining a decisive upper hand in the region.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Jaishankar in China: A recalibration for regional stability
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to China, his first since the 2020 border clashes, marks a cautious yet deliberate recalibration of India-China ties. In talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jaishankar's tone was forward-looking and frank. Coming as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, the visit underscored both the opportunities for engagement and the urgency of addressing unresolved issues. People-centric initiatives such as resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and enhanced flight connectivity signal a thaw after five years of diplomatic frost. Beyond this, Jaishankar emphasised the core priority for taking the ties to a meaningful plane: peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control. While recent steps towards disengagement are encouraging, India continues to press for complete de-escalation. Jaishankar also flagged trade restrictions and barriers to market access as impediments to genuine economic cooperation. He called for the resumption of hydrological data-sharing and broader trans-border cooperation regarding rivers. These are reminders of regional interdependence that require transparency and trust to thrive. That is why differences need to be addressed and prevented from escalating into disputes. This is not just vital for bilateral stability; it's essential for regional peace. A predictable India-China relationship will shape the broader Asian security architecture and aid India's efforts to navigate an increasingly multipolar world with more strategic space.
