Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 8

China has responded with a positive spirit to end the stand-off in Ladakh in the spirit of bilateralism insisting on the stability of the situation and its resolution through consensus as it announced that the “two sides are ready to engage in consultations to properly solve the relevant issues”.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, while referring to the Saturday talks in Chusul Moldo between the Indian and Chinese commanders, on Monday, said: “One consensus (of the talks) is that the two sides need to implement the two leaders’ (Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinxing) consensus and make sure that the differences do not escalate into disputes.”

Modi and Jinping during their meetings had reached a consensus that the issues between the two countries should resolve the issue through consensus and dialogue.

The Foreign Ministry had spelt out a template of mutual cooperation after the Wuhan talks between two leaders in 2019, that said the two leaders had “forged a common understanding of the future direction of India-China relations built upon mutual respect for each other’s developmental aspirations and prudent management of differences with mutual sensitivity”.

This statement that came a day after the Indian Foreign Ministry’s statement focusing on the cordial atmosphere, in which the military commanders of the two countries had met to resolve more than a month-long stand-off in Ladakh, appeared to be coming from the same echo chamber, and the one which should soar the spirits of the Ladakhis.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson continued in the spirit of the mutual understanding and that the two sides will work to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border and create a good atmosphere.

She also referred to the recent communications “through diplomatic and military channels, the two sides have maintained close communication on the situation along the border”.

This is considered a good sign and good news for the talks to bring curtains down on the stand-off in Ladakh, in which strategically important areas of the Galwan Valley, the Pangong Tso (lake) and Demchok at the Line of Actual Control ( LAC) are involved with the Chinese troops having taken their position in the areas and so have the Indian troops since the beginning of May.