State of border will determine state of relationship: Jaishankar on ties with China

New Delhi: The state of border will determine the state of relationship between India and China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday amid an over three-year military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

“The state of the border today is still abnormal,” Jaishankar said in an interactive session at an event here.  On ties with the US, Jaishankar described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Washington as “most productive” prime ministerial visit considering the solid outcome from the trip and that the relations between the two countries have become “exceptionally well”.

Referring to India’s ties with China, he said the relationship is going through a “difficult phase” because of violation of agreements relating to management of the border.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a confrontation at certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides have completed disengagement in several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

“At the end of the day for us, we recognise that it (China) is a neighbour, it is a big neighbour. Today it is a very significant economy and significant power,” Jaishankar said.