Expectations of de-escalation of crisis

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Thursday held talks with Chinese State Councillor Yang Jichei, covering “bilateral issues and major problems,” signalling that the stand-off in Doklam between Chinese and Indian troops in the Sikkim sector was likely on the agenda.

Referring to the three National Security Advisers of the BRICS countries, including Mr. Doval, who are in the Chinese capital, the official Xinhua news agency said: “[Mr.] Yang also separately exchanged views with the three senior representatives on bilateral relations, international and regional issues and multilateral affairs, and set forth China’s position on bilateral issues and major problems.”

Back home, Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, highlighted the agreement reached in June in Astana between the countries to intensify “development partnership” and “people-to-people contact,” even as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India had not discriminated against Chinese companies.

Mr. Akbar, responding to a question regarding China’s recent denial of visa to a group of journalists to Tibet and the remedial measures being taken to defuse the Doklam stand-off, said the two countries had agreed to work together. “[I] want to state one thing certainly... that when Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping met in Astana, a closer development partnership was discussed and both countries decided that we will intensify our people-to-people contacts and do whatever is necessary to bring both countries closer.”

Ms. Swaraj maintained that despite commitment to improve bilateral ties, India had not hesitated to protest whenever differences arose with China about issues like stapled visas for Indian citizens from Arunachal or the visit of Dalai Lama to Tawang. She, however, maintained that India remained open to Chinese companies. “There is no policy to deny China [business opportunities],” she said to a question.

The statement about closer developmental partnership was also reiterated by MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay who described bilateral ties between the two countries as a “factor of stability” and reiterated the June 8 “Astana consensus” under which both sides agreed to resolve disputes through negotiations.