Centre dismisses reports of Rajnath Singh meeting Chinese counterpart

A day after Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took part in the virtual Russia-India-China trilateral meeting that was also attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to run into his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe during Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on June 24, Global Times reported.

However, soon after the report was published, the Centre clarified that the Defence Minister would not be meeting Wei in Moscow as suggested by the Chinese propaganda website, ANI reported. But Wei will be attending the military parade.

Earlier, Jaishankar, while speaking at the trilateral meeting, stressed the need for leading voices of the world to respect international law, while recognising the interests of partners.  The External Affairs Minister made the remarks a week after having a telephonic conversation with Wang, following the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in Ladakh.

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“This special meeting reiterates our belief in the time-tested principles of international relations. But the challenge today is not just one of concepts and norms, but equally of their practice,” said Jaishankar, adding that respecting international law, recognising the legitimate interests of partners, supporting multilateralism and promoting common good are the only way of building a durable world order.

On the night of June 15, at least 20 Indian soldiers had been killed during a violent clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley, government sources had confirmed. The sources had also added that the Chinese side too had suffered 43 casualties, including deaths and serious injuries.

Since May 5, the armies on both sides had been engaging in a standoff in the disputed areas of the Galwan Valley, besides those in Pangong Tso, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in the eastern Ladakh. However, this was the first confrontation between India and China that involves fatalities in the last 45 years.