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Opinion | A year after deadly Galwan Valley clashes, India and China are struggling to rebuild mutual trust
- India has been willing to defer to Beijing’s ‘sensitivities’ on certain critical issues but is now seeking to redraw these red lines, insisting on reciprocity
- Despite both sides talking of peace, the ‘fog of war’ lingers, with competing narratives reinforcing perceptions of enduring rivalries
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Under India’s presidency at the UN Security Council, there was this month an unprecedented stand-alone session devoted to maritime security, reaffirming the international rules-based order at sea.
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Previously, such discussions have been prevented by Beijing’s sensitivities regarding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Despite Beijing sending only a deputy permanent representative, India welcomed global support, including Russian President Vladimir Putin’s presence. From New Delhi’s perspective, the discussions were worthwhile.
Other actions – the recent naval exercise with Vietnam in the South China Sea, upcoming Malabar exercises with Quad partners near Guam and the recently concluded Colombo Security Conclave – underline India’s intent to expand partnerships and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.
In the past, India has been willing to defer to Beijing’s sensitivities on certain critical issues. However, one year after the deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley, India is determined to redraw these red lines.
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New Delhi now demands Beijing respect its concerns in areas it regards as equally important, insisting upon mutual respect as a prerequisite for rebuilding trust in a relationship that has become deeply strained. This is the new normal in India-China relations.
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