Advertisement

Updated March 8th, 2021 at 09:52 IST

As QUAD meet nears, China reminds India: 'Friends, not rivals...don’t undercut each other'

As India prepares to join the first QUAD meeting, Beijing reiterated its 'friendship' with New Delhi & said the two sides should 'stop undercutting each other'

Reported by: Gloria Methri
Quad
| Image:self
Advertisement

As India prepares to participate in the first-ever meeting of the QUAD leaders, which is likely to be held on March 12, an embattled China on Sunday said that Beijing and New Delhi should stop “undercutting” each other, shed mutual “suspicion” and create “enabling conditions” by expanding bilateral cooperation to resolve the border issue.

The remarks were made by Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, at his annual press conference in Beijing. The statement is seen as a signal to India as it plans to join the Quad meeting this week between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japan PM Yoshihide Suga and Australian PM Scott Morrison. Beijing views the Quad with suspicion as the four leaders strongly oppose China’s advances and attempts at altering the status quo in the Indo-Pacific region by coercion. 

READ | Quad Leaders Summit With PM Modi, Suga, Biden And Morrison To Take Place Soon

Three years ago, Wang had dismissed revival of Quad as a “headline-grabbing” idea that would get attention but “soon dissipate like foam in the sea”. He had called for the “the Dragon and Elephant to not fight but dance”.

Since then, quite some actions have taken place under the bilateral bridge between the two nations. These include the prolonged standoff along the LAC and a clash in Galwan, and the first de-escalation last month. 

Wang's recent remark also comes after his 75-minute phone conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on February 26, when they agreed to establish a hotline — “for timely communication and exchange of views”.

READ | Australia Reiterates Commitment To Deepen QUAD Cooperation, Calls For A 'resilient Region'

'Friend, not foe': China to India

On Sunday, Wang said the boundary dispute was “an issue apart from the long-standing history of the China-India relationship.” He stressed that both countries were friends and partners who should shed mutual suspicion, manage disputes properly, and expand cooperation to create enabling conditions for the settlement of the issue.

Wang stressed, “China and India are each other’s friends and partners, not threats or rivals…The two sides need to help each other to succeed instead of undercutting each other. We should intensify cooperation instead of harbouring suspicion at each other.”

READ | Beijing Listening? US' New Biden Govt Plans To Bring QUAD Leaders Together, Circle China

Referring to the Ladakh standoff, Wang said, “We are committed to settling the boundary dispute through dialogue and consultation. At the same time we are resolved to safeguarding our sovereign rights,” he said.

Wang added that the onus was on both sides to solidify the existing consensus, strengthen dialogue and communication and improve the various management mechanisms to jointly safeguard peace in the border areas.

On Friday, India’s Ambassador to China Vikram Misri met Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui and called for completing the disengagement from all areas in eastern Ladakh.

READ | QUAD Opposes Chinese Attempts To Alter Status Quo In Indo-Pacific; EAM Attends Meet

Advertisement

Published March 8th, 2021 at 09:09 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Jailed Gangster Mukhtar Ansari Passes Away
14 minutes ago
Mukhtar Ansari Death
24 minutes ago
Chamkila
26 minutes ago
Lorry Crushes Car-Cleaner To Death In Telangana
31 minutes ago
Major League Cricket
32 minutes ago
Abhay Deol
33 minutes ago
delhi cm arvind kejriwal
35 minutes ago
MEA Responds To China’s Comment On Sikh Separatist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun
37 minutes ago
Riyan Parag
39 minutes ago
David Warner
40 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo