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Some updates to this thread below on the rhetoric we've seen - or not seen - from China & India during the ongoing boundary tensions.
We've seen a few developments over the last couple of days... 1/ https://twitter.com/tanvi_madan/status/1264938204039438339?s=20
We've seen a few developments over the last couple of days... 1/ https://twitter.com/tanvi_madan/status/1264938204039438339?s=20
Yday we saw a series of articles in India citing "sources" saying GoI:
- wldn't accept any change in status quo
- hadn't violated LAC
- wanted amicable solution.
Reflected @nitingokhale's May 20 take on GoI approach: "Resolute on the border and reasonable in diplomacy" 2/
- wldn't accept any change in status quo
- hadn't violated LAC
- wanted amicable solution.
Reflected @nitingokhale's May 20 take on GoI approach: "Resolute on the border and reasonable in diplomacy" 2/
Also yday, Xi Jinping called for "battle-readiness" at Nat'l People's Congress that had led to some speculation re link to China-India situation. @fravel in a must-read interview ( https://bit.ly/2M33b8v ) w/ @ananthkrishnan said the call wasn't unusual 3/ https://twitter.com/fravel/status/1265663303562547200?s=20
Today, we've seen a couple of statements from Chinese officials that have been interpreted as conciliatory or at least signaling a willingness to talk & not escalate further
- MFA spox in Beijing: https://bit.ly/2TJnxbc
- PRC amb. in Delhi: https://bit.ly/2TJLxLm 4/
- MFA spox in Beijing: https://bit.ly/2TJnxbc
- PRC amb. in Delhi: https://bit.ly/2TJLxLm 4/
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the boundary situation was "overall stable and controllable," & said "We are capable of resolving the issues properly though dialogue and consultation" 5/
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-27/China-Situation-in-border-with-India-overall-stable-controllable--QPSMsoEKTS/share_amp.html?__twitter_impression=true
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-27/China-Situation-in-border-with-India-overall-stable-controllable--QPSMsoEKTS/share_amp.html?__twitter_impression=true
PRC ambo to India: "We shld adhere to the basic judgment that China & India are each other's opportunities & pose no threat to each other....we shld gradually seek understanding through communication and constantly resolve differences" 6/ http://in.china-embassy.org/eng/embassy_news/t1783345.htm
We hv not seen a statement from the PMO/MEA in India. We did see govt sources yesterday indicate a willingness to use diplomatic channels for an "amicable solution"
We hv tho seen comments from 2 ministers not associated w/ security policymaking (seemed more abt pol mileage) 7/
We hv tho seen comments from 2 ministers not associated w/ security policymaking (seemed more abt pol mileage) 7/
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, asked about the China-India boundary situaiton, said: "Narendra Modi ke Bharat ko koi aankh nahi dikha sakta [Noone can stare down/eye Modi's India] 8/ https://www.thestatesman.com/india/no-one-can-dare-to-stare-at-modis-india-ravi-shankar-prasad-amid-tensions-with-china-at-lac-1502893103.html
MoS for road transport (& fmr COAS) VK Singh says China "posturing to divert attention" from COVID, SCS, trade problems. "What better thing...than bring up a nationalistic issue." Said GoI tackling in normal, graduated way; don't panic, raise passions 9/ https://www.indiatoday.in/programme/india-first/video/india-china-standoff-union-minister-gen-vk-singh-decodes-the-tussle-1682252-2020-05-26
We're also seeing this Modi is strong & he & his team will stand up to a "bellicose China" line from other GoI natsec official "sources." Unlike VKS tho, they link it to PRC desire to stop Indian road construction and/or broader Chinese assertiveness 10/ https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-s-doklam-team-back-in-action-to-stand-up-to-china-in-ladakh/story-F1E9vWFXP9qGghwExg90ZM.html
Remember how I'd said India's wolf warrior channels had stayed fairly 
re boundary situation. Well, they're baaack. Saw this after Doklam too, but later in the cycle. Maybe rattled by Cong call for transparency? Cuz party line seems to be IN assertive, PRC caves, Cong bad 11/
re boundary situation. Well, they're baaack. Saw this after Doklam too, but later in the cycle. Maybe rattled by Cong call for transparency? Cuz party line seems to be IN assertive, PRC caves, Cong bad 11/
Indian Army "sources" have a more sober response to PRC stmts today: "The words spoken by the Chinese diplomats are very nice. But words alone do not matter from a military point of view, they have to translate into action on the ground" 12/ https://theprint.in/defence/india-waits-for-chinas-diplomatic-words-to-translate-into-action-on-ground-at-lac-in-ladakh/430637/
Re yesterday's comments on the China-India boundary situation by the Chinese foreign ministry spox, adding the transcript to this thread 13/
