India being tested, will meet national security challenge: Jaishankar on border standoff with China

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that India was being tested in the seven-month-long border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and expressed confidence it will rise to the occasion and meet the national security challenge.

In an interactive session at the FICCI’s annual general meeting, Jaishankar also said that what has happened in eastern Ladakh was not actually in China’s interest as it has significantly impacted public sentiment in India.

Calling the “events” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) very disturbing, the external affairs minister said that they have raised some very “basic concerns”.

When asked whether it will be a long-haul or a breakthrough is expected soon, Jaishankar said: “I would not go into prediction zone at all whether it is going to be easy or not, and what will be the timelines and so on.”

“I also believe that what has happened is not actually in the interest of China. Because what it has done is — it has significantly impacted public sentiment (in India). Professionally, I have seen the evolution of how the Indian public feels about China over the last many decades and I am old enough to remember much more difficult days, especially in my childhood and in my teens,” he said.

Jaishankar said that a lot of work had gone into developing the relationship on both sides.

“I do not believe that the events of this year have helped at all. In fact, I think the real danger is that the goodwill which was so carefully developed will dissipate.”

“But I also would say that, yes, we are being tested. I have every confidence that we will rise to the occasion; we will meet that national security challenge. But beyond that, at this time, I would really frankly keep my own counsel,” Jaishankar said.

The armies of India and China are locked in a tense border standoff in eastern Ladakh since early May. Both sides have held multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks. However, no breakthrough has been achieved yet