Rajnath Singh to China: Don’t Add New Tensions—Talks Held on Kailash Yatra, Border Peace
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Summary: At the key SCO meeting in China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun not to raise fresh bilateral concerns.
In an important diplomatic encounter amid current border tensions, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Chinese counterpart, General Dong Jun, at the SCO Defence Ministers' Summit in Qingdao, China.
Singh provided a clear message: both countries should avoid complicating their relationship by focusing on de-escalation and cooperation. He highlighted that peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is critical to broader bilateral progress.
One of the more hopeful outcomes of the meeting was the discussion of resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been halted following the Galwan Valley clash and COVID-19 unrest. Singh expressed optimism that Indian pilgrims would soon return to the sacred site.
Singh presented Dong Jun with a traditional Madhubani painting as a gift of peace, signifying India's cultural variety and commitment to polite communication.
Singh also outlined a four-point proposal to ease border tensions:
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Implement previous troop disengagement plans
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Strengthen diplomatic channels
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Speed up formal border delimitation
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Empower mechanisms to manage disputes peacefully
However, India declined to sign the unified SCO statement, citing its omission of references to recent terror acts and failure to address cross-border terrorism. Singh defended India's approach, saying there should be no double standards in battling terrorism.
Overall, the discussion indicated a cautious but constructive approach—India is ready to debate but would maintain its position on critical issues such as sovereignty and national security.
