India Proposes 4-Point Plan To China To Ease Border Tensions, Better Ties
In a significant diplomatic engagement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has proposed a four-pronged plan to his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, aimed at managing border tensions and improving bilateral relations. The high-level meeting took place in Qingdao, China, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ conclave.
The formula suggested by India focuses on a clear path forward to build on the recent positive momentum in ties, which have been strained since the 2020 military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Sources said the plan includes strict adherence to the 2024 disengagement agreement, continued de-escalation of troops, fast-tracking efforts for border demarcation and delimitation, and using the existing special representative mechanism to manage differences.
During the “constructive and forward-looking” talks, Singh also firmly raised the issue of Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. He stressed that Operation Sindoor—India’s recent military action against terror camps—is now “India’s principled position” against this menace.
In a post on X after the meeting, Rajnath Singh highlighted the need for both nations to nurture the recent improvements in their relationship. “Expressed my happiness on restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly six years. It is incumbent on both sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities to the bilateral relationship,” he wrote. He also presented Admiral Dong Jun with a traditional Madhubani painting from Bihar as a goodwill gesture.
This crucial bilateral meeting came just a day after India refused to sign a joint communique at the SCO conclave. New Delhi took a strong stand after the document, under the influence of China and its ally Pakistan, allegedly attempted to dilute the focus on terrorism by omitting any mention of the recent Pahalgam attack, in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 people.
There has been a sharp focus on India-China engagements this week, marking the first high-level defence dialogue since the two nuclear-armed neighbours began to repair ties following the 2024 disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok.
The efforts to mend the relationship gained significant traction after a historic meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia in October last year, where both leaders emphasised the importance of the bilateral relationship for regional and global stability.
