• Indian forces deployed along the border continued to guard the borders in the most extreme and harsh weather conditions.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that China is trying to change the status quo by bringing in huge forces in violation of India's agreement on the northern borders.
The External Affairs Minister said here, "On the northern borders, China is trying to change the status quo by bringing in huge forces, in violation of our agreements. Despite Covid, remember, this happened in May 2020. Our retaliatory response has been strong and was firm." Thuglak's 53rd Annual Day Celebration in Chennai Tamil Nadu.
EAM Jaishankar said that the Indian forces deployed along the border are guarding the border in the most extreme and harsh weather conditions.
"These soldiers, who are deployed in thousands, guard our borders in the most difficult terrain and bad weather," he said.
Jaishankar said that India now matters more to the world, elaborating that the world saw in India's response to China that it was "a country that will not be coerced and will do its best to ensure its national security". He will do whatever he has to do".
He also emphasized on India's geo-political importance and geo-strategic position.
“In the case of India, geography has added to the case made by history of its relevance. There is a visible centrality to the ocean as well as a continental dimension to the name of the Indian peninsula. Without our active participation, no trans- Asia not the connectivity initiative may actually take off. The Indian Ocean is set to assume even greater geopolitical importance today. How well India uses its location is a large part of its relevance to the world. The more it influences and participates, the more its global shares will rise," he said.
This is not the first time that Jaishankar has criticized China for trying to 'unilaterally change' the LAC.
Earlier, in an interview with Austrian ZIB2 podcast, Jaishankar had said, "We had an agreement not to unilaterally change the LAC, which they have tried to do unilaterally. So, I think, there is an issue, a Perception is what we have. Which is derived directly from our experiences."
The Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake to the west of the LAC have been flashpoints between Indian and Chinese troops in the recent past. There was an encounter between the two armies last year east of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
Recently, India and China held the 17th round of Corps Commander level meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on December 20, where both sides agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the western sector.
The External Affairs Minister also lauded India's development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has resulted in increasing the country's stature on the global stage. He said that India has become a country that shapes the global agenda and influences its outcomes, citing India's stand on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war as a case in point.
The Minister underlined the importance of national security in the midst of insurgency and cross-border terrorism, especially the wars on terrorism.
He said that India's long-standing attitude of tolerance has created the danger of normalizing terrorism. Jaishankar cited the example of Uri and Balakot to underline the change in India's policy to deal with cross-border terrorism.
Jaishankar also said that the world offers vast opportunities, but they are associated with new challenges and responsibilities.
Jaishankar said, "India matters because these cannot be separated, and India counts on both scores. While size and population are clear indicators of a nation's potential, neither is self-sufficient in itself."
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