In a blunt and strong message to Beijing amid India-China standoff in eastern Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday categorically said that India is fully prepared and committed to protecting its sovereignty and dignity. He also emphasized that peace and tranquility on the border are essential for normal bilateral ties among neighbours.
Even as China wants to restore normal diplomatic relations without addressing the LAC issues in the eastern Ladakh region, PM Modi’s comment gives out a clear message that Beijing should not expect normalcy in ties without the LAC issues being resolved.
Elaborating further, PM said that “The future development of the India-China relationship can only be based on mutual respects.” He also stressed that normalizing the ties would benefit the wider region of the world. PM Modi made these remarks in an interview with Japanese publication Nikkei Asia. On Pakistan, PM Modi said, “India wants normal and neighbourly relations. However, it is incumbent upon them to create a conducive environment free from terrorism and hostilities. The onus is on Pakistan to take necessary steps in this regard,” he said, according to the publication.
Diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian, “By making these comments on China, PM Modi has set the narrative for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) meeting to be held in Hiroshima today on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit. The narrative is that China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region will be one of the top agendas during
