Rajnath meets Chinese counterpart amid border tensions. Here’s what happened

Marking India’s first high-level political meet with China amid a simmering border row, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday met his Chinese counterpart, General Wei Fenghe, in Moscow. India and China have been concerned in a bitter border standoff alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in jap Ladakh.

India has accused China of constructing a contemporary try to alter the established order within the southern financial institution of Pangong Lake and stated that the Chinese aspect “engaged in provocative military manoeuvres in the late night of 29th and on 30th August”.

Here’s what occurred throughout Singh’s assembly with China’s Wei:

• The assembly between Singh and Wei came about on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) assembly within the Russian capital Moscow.

• Singh left on Tuesday for the SCO meet and on the identical day, India accused China of resorting to provocative motion a day earlier when it tried to alter the established order on the southern financial institution of the Pangong Tso Lake at the same time as military-level talks have been underway. China’s actions this yr have been in clear violation of agreements, India stated in a press release issued by the ministry of exterior affairs.

• A day later, the Chinese aspect sought a gathering with Singh, HT had reported earlier this week. This was the third try made by the Chinese defence ministry for talks with Singh after the standoff erupted in early May.

Also learn: Rajnath Singh meets Chinese defence minister, requires bringing ties ‘back on right track’

• On his third day in Moscow, Singh delivered an oblique message to China on the SCO’s ministerial assembly. “Peace and security in the SCO region demand a climate of trust, non-aggression, respect for international rules and peaceful resolution of differences,” he stated.

• The Indian defence minister additionally spoke concerning the unilateral aggression between states and the necessity to chorus from it. “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War as well as the formation of the United Nations which underpins a peaceful world, where international laws and sovereignty of states are respected and states refrain from unilateral aggression on another,” Singh stated on the meet on Friday.

• After the defence minister’s handle, Chinese and Indian delegations held their first high-level political face-to-face assembly later within the night.

• In the assembly that lasted over two hours, Singh pushed for the restoration of established order ante in any respect friction factors alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in jap Ladakh and known as for disengagement of troops in an expeditious method in the course of the much-expected assembly.

Also learn | ‘Committed to inclusive global security’: Rajnath Singh reaffirms India’s stance at SCO meet

• According to China’s official information company, Xinhua, Wei instructed Singh that the accountability of the continuing rigidity lies solely with India – an allegation that New Delhi has dismissed repeatedly, saying that the border aggression has really been proven by the troops of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

• Singh was quoted by a Xinhua report in Mandarin from Moscow as saying that India hoped that two sides will “…adopt a responsible attitude, fully disengage front-line forces as soon as possible, avoid taking measures that may escalate or complicate the situation, and avoid turning differences into disputes so as to bring bilateral military relations back to the right track as soon as possible.”