Trump offers to mediate between India, China over border dispute

With the stand off between Indian and China, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), showing no signs of abating, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (May 27), offered to mediate between the two Asian giants to help them resolve their differences.

Taking to Twitter, the Trump said, “We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute. Thank you!”

This is reminiscent of the offer he made to India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370. But the proposal was shot down by India which maintains that there is no role for any third party in bilateral issues.

His offer comes amid a stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Control (LAC) in North Sikkim and Ladakh.

Several areas along this region have witnessed major military build-up by both the Indian and Chinese armies recently, in a clear signal of escalating tension and hardening of respective positions by the two sides even two weeks after they were engaged in two separate face-offs.

However, China on Wednesday took an apparently conciliatory tone by saying the situation at the border with India is “overall stable and controllable,” and both the countries have proper mechanisms and communication channels to resolve the issues through dialogue and consultation.

The Chinese envoy in India Sun Weidong was quoted as saying by news agency ANI, “We should never let differences overshadow our relations. We should resolve differences through communication.”

He also said, “China and India are fighting together against Covid-19 and we have an important task to consolidate relations. Our youth should realise the relation between China and India, the two countries are opportunities for each other and pose no threat.”

Meanwhile, India has said the Chinese military was hindering normal patrolling by its troops along the LAC in Ladakh and Sikkim and strongly refuted Beijing’s contention that the escalating tension between the two armies was triggered by trespassing of Indian forces across the Chinese side.

The Ministry of External Affairs said all Indian activities were carried out on its side of the border, asserting that India has always taken a very responsible approach towards border management. At the same time, it said India was deeply committed to protect its sovereignty and security.

“Any suggestion that Indian troops had undertaken activity across the LAC in the Western sector or the Sikkim sector is not accurate. Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas and abide by it scrupulously,” MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said at an online media briefing last week.