Even as the India-China border stand-off continues, New Delhi discussed the current tensions with visiting Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday during her meetings with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley. The issue also came up during her interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the evening.

Understanding the fact that this is 'a long-term dispute', the Australian foreign minister explained her country's position saying, "territorial disputes should be resolved peacefully between the claimant countries". Comparing the border dispute to what many countries face in the disputed waters with China, she said, "In case of maritime disputes, it should be subject to UNCLOS. Likewise, with land disputes, these should be resolved peacefully between competing claimants. And we urge countries to do that."

Australia is concerned about any 'escalation of tensions' which could lead to 'miscalculation' and 'misjudgement', she said.

GROWING AGGRESSION OF CHINA

Speaking at 'The Second Indo-Pacific Oration' organised by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Bishop reiterated the concerns the world community has in the 'rule-based order' being distorted alluding to the growing aggression of Beijing in the South China Sea waters. "Rules-based order is reflected and upheld in the Indo-Pacific. The rules-based order allows states to work peacefully and resolve disputes peacefully. Increasingly, this order is coming under threat," she added.

This outreach by the Indian government comes as a first after China engaged diplomats of various countries in Beijing to apprise them of what is happening at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction.

ENGAGING FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS

A former White House official Joshua White expressed concern over the development saying, "China is good at shaping narrative". Adding, "we have seen China exhibit a certain kind of behaviour in the South China Sea where it creates facts on the ground, in water in that case, and slowly begins to change the status quo. So, it would not be terribly surprising if China were to do something similar in this case and it is worrisome."

Even as India has begun engaging foreign governments over the crisis, China continues with its hard stance on the issue continuing its demand of 'withdrawal of Indian troops' and as reported in the PLA Daily on Wednesday, China has moved 'tens of thousands of tonnes of military equipment' to Tibet. Yet another move to show military preparedness in case of escalation.

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