India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed the significance of restoring peace along the contested border with China during high-level discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday at an Asian regional security forum. Their meeting marked yet another effort by Asia’s two most populous nations to mend strained ties and improve cooperation.
Border Stability at its Core
Jaishankar stressed the need for India-China relations to be built upon “peace and tranquility” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where both countries maintain large troop deployments. According to reports, Jaishankar told Wang that without tangible progress in disengagement and de-escalation measures, cooperation in trade, investment, regional affairs would remain limited.
“The minister emphasized that the border situation remains abnormal, and normal relations cannot be restored until this anomaly has been addressed,” according to an Indian official familiar with the talks.
Longstanding Tensions Since 2020
Relations between India and China have become strained since the deadly Galwan Valley clashes of 2020, which left soldiers on both sides dead while uprooting decades of carefully maintained border peace. Despite numerous rounds of military and diplomatic negotiations between both nations, both India and China continue to fortify sensitive parts of the LAC with fortified positions.
Since then, periodic standoffs between India and China have fostered mistrust between their governments; India bolstering infrastructure while China reinforced military facilities near their frontiers. Analysts caution that while both governments attempt to avoid direct conflict, miscalculation remains high.
Partnership, Not Rivalry
Wang Yi echoed Beijing’s view that India and China should view each other as partners, rather than rivals. According to Chinese state media reports, Wang suggested both parties “properly handle differences through dialogue” in order to prevent actions from escalating tensions further.
Wang noted that both countries must share equal responsibilities as emerging global powers, including in terms of furthering development, combatting climate change, and maintaining stability throughout Asia.
Cooperation for Peace Through Trade and Cooperation
India has made clear that any progress on the border issue must be accompanied by broad bilateral engagement. While China remains one of India’s primary trading partners – exceeding $140 billion worth in bilateral trade in 2024 – New Delhi has sought to diversify supply chains and increase scrutiny on Chinese investments in sensitive sectors.
“India has long equated peace on its border with normalizing wider relationships,” according to an international relations scholar in New Delhi. Jaishankar’s message was clear – business cannot continue as usual until stabilization takes place along the border.
International Implications
Washington, Brussels and other capitals around the world closely monitored these talks as policymakers view India-China relations as key in shaping regional balance of power. As one of New Delhi’s key allies and strategic partners, the US backed its call to maintain territorial status quo while encouraging both sides to settle disputes peacefully.
After Tuesday’s meeting, no concrete agreements were announced but both sides signaled their desire to continue dialogue. Diplomatic sources reported that working-level talks between military commanders are expected to resume soon although expectations must remain cautious.
Indian leaders remain firm that border peace must remain an irreducible prerequisite to meaningful relations with China, while their challenge lies in reconciling calls for partnership with actual actions taken on the ground.
As two nations navigate their difficult relationship, the world will watch closely to see whether their words translate to real stability along one of the world’s most sensitive frontiers.