Beijing agreed with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday that an Asian Century cannot be achieved unless India and China work together, and said discussion between the two countries to address the eastern Ladakh border stalemate is successful.
Responding to a series of questions after delivering a lecture on ‘India’s Vision of the Indo-Pacific’ at Bangkok’s prestigious Chulalongkorn University on Thursday, Jaishankar stated that the relationship between India and China was going through a “extremely difficult phase” as a result of what Beijing had done at the border, emphasising that the Asian Century would not happen if the two neighbours could not work together.
In eastern Ladakh, Chinese and Indian troops have been involved in a protracted standoff. The two sides have undertaken 16 rounds of Corps Commander Level negotiations so far to settle the standoff, which began on May 5, 2020, after a severe skirmish in the Pangong Lake districts.
When asked about Jaishankar’s remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press conference here that a Chinese leader once warned that if China and India cannot achieve sound development, an Asian Century cannot occur.
“A true Asia Pacific Century or Asian Century can happen only when China and India and other countries can achieve sound development. China and India are two ancient civilisations, two emerging economies and two big neighbours, he noted. Wang said China and India have far more common interests than differences and the two neighbours have the wisdom and capability to reinforce each other better than pose a threat to each other.”
It is hoped that the Indian side will work together with China to carry out our two leaders’ common understanding of being each other’s cooperative partners, not posing threats to each other, and presenting each other with development opportunities, so that China-India relations can return to the right track of sound and steady development at an early date and uphold the common interests of China, India, and the developing world, he said.
“I would like to stress that China and India maintain smooth communication over the border issues.” Wang said in response to a question about if China will have talks with India about disengagement at the remaining contention areas in eastern Ladakh. The conversation is effective.
Regarding Jaishankar’s remarks about misgivings to the Quad Alliance, “unilateralist opposition to a collective and cooperative endeavours, Wang reiterated China’s objection to the four-nation bloc comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia. China’s position on Quad is consistent and clear. I would like to stress that in a world of peace, cooperation and openness, there will be no support if one seeks to create small cliques, because it is against the trend of the times,” He stated.
In an apparent allusion to China’s opposition to Quad, Jaishankar stated, without identifying any countries, “if there are reservations in any quarter, these stem from a desire to exercise a veto on the choices of others. And possibly a unilateralist opposition to collective and cooperative endeavours”.
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue was established in 2017 in response to China’s assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.