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Chinese foreign relations

India and China Agree to Repair Ties, Seek "New Environment" of Peace and Tranquillity

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

National security adviser Ajit Doval told Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi that India and China have achieved a "new environment" of "peace and tranquillity", as the two sides move to repair ties shattered by a deadly border clash in 2020. The agreement comes after a series of meetings between top diplomats, including a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Wang. The two sides have agreed to resume direct flights, reopen border trade at three Himalayan crossings, and facilitate visas for travellers between them.

Key Takeaways:

  • India and China have achieved a "new environment" of "peace and tranquillity" after a series of meetings between top diplomats.
  • National security adviser Ajit Doval told Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi that borders have been quiet and there has been an upward trend in peace and stability.
  • The two sides have agreed to resume direct flights, which have been suspended since 2020, and reopen border trade at three Himalayan crossings.
  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a bilateral meeting in Kazan, Russia last year, marking a rapprochement between the two nations.
  • The agreement comes amidst a shift in global geopolitics, with analysts attributing the current rapprochement to the geopolitical disruption caused by US President Donald Trump's trade wars.
  • China has agreed to address India's "needs" by allowing shipments of rare earths, fertilisers, and tunnel boring machines.
  • The thaw between Beijing and New Delhi began last October, after they agreed on patrols of their 3,500km border.
  • The agreement will pave the way for Modi's first visit to China in seven years at the end of this month.

Statistics:

  • The Indian and Chinese armies clashed along their disputed Himalayan border in 2020, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops.
  • The two sides have been at loggerheads for decades, with relations hitting a recent nadir after the 2020 border clash.
  • China has supplied fighter jets to Pakistan during a four-day cross-border conflict in May, further straining India-China relations.
  • The two nations have a 3,500km border, with multiple crossings and trade routes.
  • India and China have agreed to resume direct flights and reopen border trade at three Himalayan crossings.

Sources:

  • Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister, during meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and national security adviser Ajit Doval. (Xinhua)
  • Ajit Doval, national security adviser, during meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. (NDTV)
  • Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister, during meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. (Press Information Bureau)
  • S Jaishankar, Indian foreign minister, during meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. (Xinhua)
  • Diplomats familiar with the matter, regarding China's agreement to address India's "needs". (NDTV)

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