India-China Relations: On Saturday, India responded to a congratulatory message from the Chinese side on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election victory, stating that New Delhi will strive to normalize bilateral ties based on “mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.”
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal conveyed India’s response while responding to a congratulatory message posted on X by the Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson on June 5. China’s top leadership has not yet formally messaged the Indian side regarding the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) victory in the general election.
In his post on X, Jaiswal expressed gratitude to @MFA_China for congratulating PM @narendramodi on his election victory. He stated that India will continue to pursue efforts towards normalizing India-China ties based on mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.
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What are current India-China relations
The current state of India-China relations reflects their lowest point due to the military standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which commenced in May 2020 and has now entered its fifth year. The Indian side has consistently emphasized that normalizing the overall bilateral relationship is contingent upon achieving peace and tranquility on the border.
On the other hand, the Chinese side has advocated for placing the border issue in its “appropriate place” within the overall relationship, while both sides advance ties in other sectors like trade and investment. Despite numerous rounds of diplomatic and military discussions, addressing major “friction points” on the LAC such as Depsang and Demchok remains unresolved.
What did the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson say?
On June 5, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry posted on X, extending congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi, BJP, and the National Democratic Alliance on their election victory. A comparable message was also conveyed by the spokesperson during a routine media briefing in Beijing. At that moment, India had not yet responded to China’s message. Observers noted that the delay in India’s response also indicated the strained nature of bilateral relations.
China stands as the sole member among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, known as the P-5, whose top leadership has not dispatched a congratulatory message to Modi. The Indian leader has received messages from counterparts in Britain, France, Russia, and the US.
Pakistan, a close ally of China, is also among the countries whose leaders have not yet congratulated Modi. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was in China on an official visit when the result of the Indian election was announced.
On Friday, the spokesperson of the Pakistani Foreign Office addressed a question at a media briefing regarding sending a congratulatory message to India, stating that it is the right of the Indian people to decide about their leadership. The spokesperson further remarked that discussing sending a congratulatory message was “premature,” adding, “As far as I understand, the process of formation of government is ongoing.”
The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s desire for cooperative relations with all neighbors, including India. “We have consistently promoted constructive dialogue and engagement to address all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir,” she emphasized.
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