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China-India border row: risk of tangled ties if New Delhi looks to third parties, says expert

  • Beijing advised to consider how to prevent border differences spilling into other aspects of bilateral relations
  • If India is revamping its China policy framework laid since 1988 then China must recalibrate too, says observer

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In a demonstration of tension at the border, military trucks carrying supplies move towards forward areas in the Ladakh region on September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui
Ties between China and India could become even more tangled if New Delhi invites interference from other parties such as the United States, according to a leading Chinese foreign policy expert.
With the world’s two most populous developing countries in a border stand-off for nearly five months, Beijing is aware of the growing need to recalibrate its approach to the South Asian giant.
The conflict developed into the deadliest clash between their countries in four decades and a no-firing agreement that had been upheld for years was violated in recent weeks with the exchange of warning shots.
After a 14-hour discussion between commanders on Monday, both sides agreed to stop sending more troops to the front line but stopped short of any breakthrough, according to their joint statement issued late on Tuesday.

Meanwhile this month, India and Japan sealed a logistics agreement to provide their militaries with access to each other’s bases for supplies and services to “enhance the interoperability” of their armed forces.

Their foreign ministers, together with their US and Australian counterparts – members of the so-called Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – are expected to meet again in Tokyo next month. Japanese news agency Kyodo cited government sources saying the ministers were meeting as China worked to build its regional clout.

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