India has warned China that the expectation that the tense situationbetween both countries at the border can be brushed aside and life returnsto normal, is simply not realistic.

These words were said by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, whoprovided eight broad points that if implemented, could improve relationsbetween India and China. The Indian minister was speaking at an onlineconference on India-China ties were he said that any attempt tounilaterally change the status quo will be “completely unacceptable”.

He said that relationship between the two countries today are at acrossroads and the choices made by the two will impact not only the regionbut the entire world. Jaishankar said that China has yet to provide anexplanation on amassing troops at the border and crossing into Indianterritory. “Significantly, to date, we have yet to receive a credibleexplanation for the change in China’s stance and massing of troops inborder areas,” he said.

He said that both countries will be able to move forward if they adhered tothe agreement on the management of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).”Whether handling of the border areas is concerned, the Line of ActualControl must be strictly observed and respected. Any attempt tounilaterally change the status quo is completely unacceptable,” he said.

He highlighted that both countries were committed to a multi-polar worldand in the same sense, should be ready to embrace a multi-polar Asia.Jaishankra stressed that relations between the two countries should bebased on mutual sensitivity. “Obviously each state will have its interests,concerns and priorities, but sensitivity to them cannot be one-sided. Atthe end of the day relationships between major states are reciprocal innature,” he said.