Jaishankar and China’s Wang Yi Likely to Meet in Astana Tomorrow

Historical Context: The relationship between India and China has been marked by a series of conflicts and diplomatic engagements, particularly concerning the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The LAC has been a contentious border between the two nations, leading to several military standoffs. The most notable recent clash occurred in June 2020 in the Galwan Valley, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops. This incident significantly strained bilateral relations, bringing them to their lowest point in six decades.

Current News: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Thursday. This will be their first meeting in almost a year, amidst ongoing military tensions along the LAC. Both ministers are attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held on July 3-4. Jaishankar is representing India in the absence of the Prime Minister, while Wang Yi is part of President Xi Jinping’s delegation.

Although there has been no formal announcement from either India or China, sources indicate that the two ministers are likely to hold talks on Thursday morning before Jaishankar returns to India. This meeting is seen as an opportunity to review the situation along the LAC, which has been tense since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020.

Jaishankar and Wang Yi had a brief interaction at the Munich Security Conference in Germany in February and last held a bilateral meeting during ASEAN-related meetings in Jakarta on July 14, 2023. The Indian leadership, including Jaishankar, has consistently stated that normalizing relations with China is contingent on peace and stability at the border. Jaishankar has accused China of violating border management agreements and amassing troops along the LAC.

In contrast, Wang Yi has suggested that the overall relationship between the two countries should not be defined by specific issues, implying that the LAC dispute should be viewed in a broader context. Recently, China has been advocating for the resumption of direct flights to India and the easing of visa restrictions for Chinese nationals, particularly technical personnel working in India. However, India has linked these issues to the situation in the Ladakh sector, where both sides have deployed around 50,000 troops each.

Despite numerous rounds of diplomatic and military talks, India and China have yet to resolve key “friction points” along the LAC, such as Depsang and Demchok. The upcoming meeting between Jaishankar and Wang Yi could potentially set the stage for the next round of discussions aimed at addressing these issues.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Historical Context: Ongoing tensions along the LAC, highlighted by the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June 2020.
• Current Meeting: Jaishankar and Wang Yi to meet in Astana during the SCO Summit.
• Purpose: Review the LAC situation and discuss bilateral relations.
• Previous Interactions: Brief meeting in Munich (February) and bilateral talks in Jakarta (July 2023).
• India’s Stance: Normalization of relations contingent on border peace; China accused of violating agreements.
• China’s Stance: Broader view of relations, advocating for resumption of direct flights and easing visa restrictions.
• Unresolved Issues: Key friction points at Depsang and Demchok remain unresolved.
• Potential Outcome: Meeting could pave the way for further diplomatic and military discussions.