Embracing Tradition: Namaste and Fist and Palm Unlock the Path to SCO's Awaited Meeting
In the realm of international relations, two prominent neighbouring nations have found themselves entangled in the intricate dynamics of the Prisoner's Dilemma. A consequential event took place in Goa as the Foreign Ministers from these nations convened to pave the way for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and exhibit their ardent enthusiasm for multilateral collaboration. Notably, the recently appointed Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, Qin Gang, embarked on his inaugural diplomatic visit to New Delhi, subsequently proceeding to Goa to partake in the preliminary discussions preceding the forthcoming SCO summit scheduled to transpire in July 2023, hosted by India.
This visit holds considerable significance, as it marks the first bilateral encounter for Minister Qin and only his second engagement with a foreign nation since assuming office. Remarkably, at the youthful age of 56, Qin assumed the role of the youngest Foreign Minister in the history of the People's Republic of China. His ascent to this esteemed position transpired in October of the previous year when he replaced Wang Yi and ascended to the Politburo of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This appointment bestowed upon him the responsibility of augmenting the depth of China's foreign policy engagements with other nations.
Qin Gang is a familiar face to the Chinese populace and journalists based in Beijing, owing to his previous role as the spokesperson and Deputy Director General of the Information Department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2010. This tenure equipped him with a wealth of experience in navigating the complexities of foreign policy. Notably, his assertive approach in responding to journalists' inquiries has come to be identified as China's "wolf warrior diplomacy”, exemplifying his resolute demeanor in safeguarding China's interests on the global stage.
From Handshakes to Hope
The recent meeting between the Indian External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, and the Foreign Minister of China, Qin Gang, represents a significant development in the ongoing efforts to normalize the long-standing animosity between the two countries. This animosity reached a critical point following the Galwan attack in 2020. The meeting, which took place on May 4th-5th in Tax Exotica resort, Goa, has paved the way for the forthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting scheduled to be held in the first week of July. This meeting aims to foster cooperation and mutual trust among SCO countries.
The meeting between the Indian and Chinese foreign ministers is highly anticipated by both countries, as it focuses primarily on resolving the border issue that arose as a result of the Galwan skirmishes. The Ladakh region, particularly the border areas, has been the focal point of discussion, with the aim of finding a solution that ensures peace and tranquility in the region. The resolution of the eastern Ladakh border issues is also a priority and both countries have mulled over strategies to resolve them as soon as possible. The Ladakh border issue originated on May 5th, 2020, when the armies of both countries intruded into each other's territories. The Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 marked the most serious conflict between the two countries in recent decades. Since then, Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), although they have disengaged in many areas following a series of military and diplomatic talks. However, the issue is far from being fully resolved.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has expressed a commitment to improving dialogue and coordination during the meeting with the Indian External Affairs Minister. This commitment from Beijing reflects a desire to ease tensions and normalize the India-China relationship, returning it to a previous phase characterized by healthy and peaceful win-win cooperation. China is actively seeking to collaborate with India on various fronts through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. However, achieving this goal necessitates enhanced dialogue, deep coordination, and cooperation on international and regional issues. The multilateral cooperation facilitated by platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) becomes instrumental in realizing these objectives for both countries.
Since the Galwan Valley attack, no significant progress has been observed in recent times in improving bilateral relations between India and China. Consequently, the SCO serves as a desirable platform within the multilateral forum where the two nations can overcome their past frictions, foster cooperation and engagement, and generate tangible outcomes for the global community. Within the past two months, a second meeting between the Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and the Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar took place. Qin's visit to India in March was in the context of a Group of 20 summit, during which Jaishankar employed the term "abnormal" to describe the nature of India-China relations.
Furthermore, in a recent development, the defense ministers of both countries convened in New Delhi during an SCO conclave. During this meeting, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu the concern regarding the substantial deployment of Chinese troops and the violation of existing agreements, which have eroded the fundamental basis of the bilateral relationship.
According to a report by Bloomberg in their politics section, the recent meeting between the foreign ministers of India and China ahead of the grand Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting emphasized the dominance of border tensions in their discussions. Both sides have agreed to engage in talks to resolve the ongoing border dispute, and incremental progress has been made in this regard. Additionally, a few days after the meeting, talks specifically focused on the border issue were held in an attempt to resolve the long-standing conflict between the two neighboring countries.
Shortly after the meeting, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Indian diplomat, took to Twitter to share the outcomes, stating, "We had a detailed discussion with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on bilateral ties. The focus remains on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas."
The diplomat further reported that India and China have been embroiled in a protracted three-year standoff, with thousands of soldiers stationed along their disputed border in the eastern Ladakh region. Even after three years of conflict, the situation along the border remains far from normal. While India has accused its neighbor of undermining bilateral ties by violating peace and tranquility agreements, China has claimed that the overall condition along the border remains "stable."
In Bloomberg's report, it highlighted the prominence of border tensions in the meeting between the foreign ministers of India and China preceding the significant Shanghai Cooperation Organization gathering. The discussions revolved around the ongoing border dispute, and both sides expressed a willingness to engage in talks, leading to gradual progress in addressing the issue. Subsequently, a separate meeting specifically addressing the border matter took place shortly after.
Following the meeting, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, an Indian external affair minister conveyed the outcomes through a tweet, emphasizing the primary objective of addressing unresolved matters and establishing an atmosphere of peace and serenity along the border regions. Moreover, there is a shared anticipation of improved bilateral relations in the future.
In conclusion, the meeting between the foreign ministers of India and China is widely seen as a significant step towards the smooth organization of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in July, to be held in New Delhi. Apart from addressing the border conflict, the ministers also discussed in detail the forthcoming meetings of the G20, BRICS, and SCO. There is a high likelihood that, for the first time since the conflict, the Indian Prime Minister will engage with his counterparts, including Xi Jinping of China, Pakistan's Prime Minister Sharif, Vladimir Putin, and other leaders at the upcoming meeting in July 2023.
The exchange of "Namaste" and the fist and palm reply between the leaders reflects the mutual respect for their respective traditional cultures and represents an element of their soft power in international politics. Immediately after the meeting, both countries initiated border meetings at the commander level, indicating a willingness to move forward and elevate their bilateral relations to new heights. However, it is widely anticipated that the outcomes of the upcoming SCO meeting in New Delhi will serve as a driving force for their bilateral and multilateral engagements.
References
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Jaishankar discusses border with Chinese FM in Goa; Qin Gang to visit Pak - Rediff.com India News
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Jaishankar to hold talks with Chinese FM Qin, Lavrov, host Pakistan FM in Goa - The Hindu
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Qin Gang is named China's new foreign minister : NPR
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India Gears Up To Host SCO Foreign Ministers Meet in Goa: What's on the Agenda? (thequint.com)
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Border Tensions Dominate India, China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting - Bloomberg
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12. Border Tensions Dominate India, China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting - Bloomberg
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( The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)
