A Calibrated Approach to Bettering India-China Ties
Hindustan Times Lucknow|January 05, 2025
India must show strategic patience in its dealings with China, keeping in mind the larger geopolitical picture and seek cooperation wherever possible and desirable, without harboring any unrealistic expectations
Ashok K Kantha

As we enter the new year, India and China are poised at an ambiguous juncture in their relations. There has been a thaw after an extended period of turbulence since the summer of 2020, but its structural impediments persist. Disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh has been achieved, but military deployment in abnormally high numbers continues for the fifth successive winter; the process of de-escalation has not commenced yet. The paradigm governing the relationship for over three decades, already enfeebled, broke down in 2020, and the quest for a new equilibrium has an uncertain prognosis, with no agreed road map available.

There was a flurry of meaningful high-level meetings in the last quarter of 2024, including between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at Kazan on October 23, between the external affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and foreign minister Wang Yi at Rio de Janeiro on November 18, and the resumption of the dialogue between the special representatives (SRs) after five years with national security advisor Ajit Doval meeting his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing on December 18. Relations have stabilized but are still not normal.

In his statement in Lok Sabha on December 3, the EAM was correct in not suggesting a major forward movement in India-China relations, indicating instead that recent developments have set bilateral ties in the direction of "some improvement" and adding that the conclusion of the disengagement phase "allows us to consider other aspects of our bilateral engagement in a calibrated manner, keeping our national security interests first and foremost." He was right in not encouraging the suggestion coming from certain quarters about a "reset" in India-China relations.

Where do we go from here?

This story is from the January 05, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Lucknow.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 05, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Lucknow.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES LUCKNOWView All
Hindustan Times Lucknow

Hyd Man Shot Dead in US, Kin Urge Govt to Help Bring Body

A 26-year-old man from Hyderabad was shot dead by unidentified people at Washington Avenue in the US on Sunday, his family members told reporters on Monday.

time-read
1 min  |
January 21, 2025
Hindustan Times Lucknow

U'khand nod for UCC rules

THE RULES WILL COME INTO FORCE ONCE THEY ARE NOTIFIED LATER THIS MONTH ON A DAY THAT STATE CM DHAMI WILL ANNOUNCE

time-read
3 mins  |
January 21, 2025
Hindustan Times Lucknow

Turf questions in CCI's Meta order

CCI HAD IMPOSED A ₹213 CRORE PENALTY ON META FOR ALLEGEDLY ABUSING ITS DOMINANT POSITION

time-read
1 min  |
January 21, 2025
Hindustan Times Lucknow

Donald Trump 2.0 and the limits of CEO as president

Donald J Trump has officially become the 47th President of the United States (US).

time-read
4 mins  |
January 21, 2025
Hindustan Times Lucknow

China Executes 62-Year-Old Who Killed 35 in Zhuhai Car Rampage

China on Monday executed a man who killed 35 people in a car rampage in the southern city of Zhuhai in November, in the country's deadliest mass attack in years.

time-read
1 min  |
January 21, 2025
Hindustan Times Lucknow

Trump and India-US ties: What will work, what needs work

Under Donald Trump, just like the past five American presidencies including his own, America's strategic relationship with India will deepen.

time-read
6 mins  |
January 21, 2025
Hindustan Times Lucknow

Go First fails to take off, NCLT orders liquidation

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ordered the liquidation of debt-laden Go First on Monday, bringing to an end a 20-month-long insolvency process after the grounded budget carrier failed to get any viable resolution plan.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 21, 2025
Hindustan Times Lucknow

Engaging with President Trump

India-US ties may be immune to a change of guard in Washington, but New Delhi should be prepared to respond to the challenges ahead

time-read
2 mins  |
January 21, 2025
Hindustan Times Lucknow

Decoding illegal cylinder biz and how it fuels Mela risks

Authorities say special teams formed to detect, check sale of \"non-ISI mark\" cylinders near Mela, FIR will be lodged against anyone caught supplying them

time-read
4 mins  |
January 21, 2025
Hindustan Times Lucknow

Not Satisfied: CM Seeks Death Sentence, Oppn Hits Out at TMC

Looking back at the case

time-read
4 mins  |
January 21, 2025