India rejects China’s Interpretation of PM Modi’s exchange with President Xi Jinping

New Delhi, July 29, 2023: India has dismissed China’s interpretation of an informal exchange between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the G20 Bali summit dinner. While China claims a “consensus” was reached on stabilizing bilateral relations, India sees it as an attempt to keep ties perpetually strained on Chinese terms.

The issuance of stapled visas to Indian Wushu athletes from Arunachal Pradesh for the Chengdu games has further strained relations, and India has responded by pulling out the entire Wushu team from the University games in protest.

China’s actions are seen as part of its “wolf warrior diplomacy,” a confrontational approach that refuses to budge from its historical positions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Arunachal Pradesh, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through occupied Kashmir’s Shaksgam Valley.

Despite meetings between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Wang Yi, no agreed text was reached, allowing both sides to interpret the meetings on their own terms. India dismisses China’s description of “consensus” as a positive spin on an informal exchange.

India’s concerns over China’s expansionist actions, both along the LAC and in the Indian Ocean, have escalated since the 2017 Doklam stand-off and the 2020 PLA aggression in Pangong Tso, East Ladakh.

The Narendra Modi government is wary of China’s PLA posturing and is vigilant about safeguarding India’s security interests. With security concerns along the border with Myanmar and China’s encroachment into Bhutanese territory, India’s relationship with China remains far from stabilized.

While China seeks Indian business and trade, India has the leverage to exercise visa controls, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan.

India is cautious about China’s involvement in the Manipur violence and the potential risks it poses to the northeastern states. The delicate situation demands careful handling of diplomatic ties, as India seeks to protect its interests and maintain regional stability.