India considers incidents occurring with China in the border areas as the "most serious" issue, stating that the situation at the border will impact overall bilateral relations.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Jaiswal made the above statement during a regular press conference in response to questions regarding renewed standoffs between Indian and Chinese troops at the border.
According to reports, Jaiswal did not deny that fresh friction had erupted in the border areas between India and China. He said that India had reiterated its stance during the 36th meeting of the China-India Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs held earlier in August, but did not disclose further details.
Last Friday, India's Ministry of Home Affairs announced standard names for 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh (referred to as Zangnan by China), saying it would help raise public awareness of their geographical and historical significance. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference that the Zangnan area is Chinese territory and that China has never recognized the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh" illegally established by India.
Jaiswal stated that both sides "have agreed to continue using existing diplomatic and military channels to address outstanding issues" and avoid "misunderstandings and misjudgments" in the disputed border areas.
The border between China and India stretches for 3,488 kilometers and remains undemarcated, serving as a major source of tension in bilateral relations in recent years. Since the border clash in June 2020, which resulted in casualties on both sides, India-China relations have been gradually recovering. Indian Prime Minister Modi's meeting with Xi Jinping in Tianjin, China, in August last year was seen as a sign of easing relations between the two countries.