“Both Sides Are Ready…”: China’s New Foreign Minister On Ties With India

Washington:

China’s new foreign minister, Qin Gang, has indicated in an article for the US magazine The National Interest that Beijing is looking to improve relations with New Delhi.

A few days before he was replaced by Wang Yi, Qin referred to the India-China border issues in an article titled “How China Seas the World” and said, “The two sides are determined to de-escalate the situation and jointly seek peace on their borders.” Willing to protect.”

The Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake to the west of the LAC have played host to flashpoints in recent years. To the east in Tawang, the site of the latest scuffle, there is talk of Buddhist holy sites whose control could have implications for China’s authority over Tibet and its next spiritual leader, according to a Newsweek report.

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 and agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the western sector.

“In the interim, both sides agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the western sector,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The MEA statement said both sides agreed to remain in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work on a mutually acceptable solution to the remaining issues at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Qin also blamed the US for challenging the status quo on Taiwan and Japan for changing the status quo in the South China Sea.

“China’s growth means a strong force for peace, not a rising power ready to ‘break the status quo’ as some say. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait stem from the Chinese mainland not breaking the status quo, Rather, it was created by ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists and external forces constantly challenging the status quo of ‘One China’,” Qin wrote.

“In the case of the East China Sea, it was Japan that attempted to ‘nationalize’ the Diaoyu Dao ten years ago, changing the “status quo” by agreeing to settle differences between China and Japan. South China Sea In the present, the status quo is that regional countries are consulting on a code of conduct that will lead to meaningful and effective rules for the region,” he wrote.

Earlier, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Washington-Beijing relations and keeping the lines of communication open in a phone call with Qin.

Taking to Twitter, Blinken said, “Had a phone call with incoming Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang this morning as he leaves Washington for his new role. We’ve talked about maintaining US-PRC relations and open lines of communication.” discussed.”

Qin, who was China’s ambassador to the US, was on Friday appointed the country’s new foreign minister.

The Global Times reported that the decision was made by the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC).

The report said 56-year-old Qin replaced Wang, who is now a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a state councillor.

On Thursday, the Chinese ambassador warned Washington that it could face a “military conflict” with Beijing over the future status of Taiwan.

Qin told the US-based publication NPR, “If Taiwanese officials, embraced by the United States, continue on the road to independence, it will most likely lead to a military conflict between China and the United States, two large countries.” will include.” His first face-to-face interview since taking up his position in Washington last July.

Qin, who arrived in Washington last year at a time of bipartisan discontent with China, told NPR that any idea of ​​”changing China” was always “an illusion.”