After two consecutive talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jaishankar's wording has obviously changed, what the Chinese side wants, and the Modi government has given it very refreshingly, so what did China and India say in the two consecutive talks? What has become of Jaishankar's words? Why such a change?
On the 25th, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with India Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in Vientiane, Laos, on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting. During the talks, Foreign Minister Wang Yi clearly pointed out that in the face of the current complex international situation and severe global challenges, China and India, two major developing countries and two emerging economies, should strengthen dialogue and communication, enhance understanding and mutual trust, properly handle contradictions and differences, and develop mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides should use the rationality to transcend contradictions, differences and frictions to promote the improvement, stability and sustainable development of China-India relations, and it is in the interests of both sides to get China-India relations back on the right track.
In the face of Wang Yi's remarks, Jaishankar said that India is willing to find solutions to differences with a historical vision, strategic thinking and an open attitude, so as to bring bilateral relations back to a positive and constructive track. And, he added, "It is in the common interest of both sides to stabilize the relationship between the two countries, and we should approach current issues with a sense of mission and urgency." "What's the problem? Combined with the consensus reached by the two sides to "work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and promote new progress in border affairs consultations", it is likely that the "current issues" mentioned by Jaishankar are directly or indirectly related to the border issue. In addition, it is not difficult to see from Jaishankar's emphasis on "a sense of mission and urgency" that his wording has changed significantly.
Earlier this month, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and S Jaishankar met for the second time in a month in Vientiane. During the last talks, Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized five "mutualities" in China-India relations, and said that China is willing to follow a series of important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries to respect each other, understand each other, trust each other, take care of each other and achieve each other, and explore the right way for the two neighbors to get along. At the same time, at that time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi also put forward two demands to the Indian side: first, properly handle and control the situation in the border areas; Second, we should actively resume normal exchanges and promote each other and move in the same direction. It is undeniable that this is exactly what China wants.
In response, Jaishankar said that the Indian side hoped to work with the Chinese side to constructively resolve specific differences and turn a new page in India-China relations as soon as possible, guided by the grand vision reached by the leaders of the two sides. From "hoping to turn a new page in India-China relations as soon as possible" to emphasizing "a sense of mission and urgency," it is not difficult to see the change in the attitude of the Indian side in a short period of time. It is worth mentioning that earlier, Jaishankar also repeatedly declared that the Sino-Indian border issue will be the focus of the India Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sino-Indian relations. To put it simply, as long as the border is in an abnormal state, it is impossible to normalize Sino-Indian relations.
Now, after two consecutive talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Modi government has given what China wants, and it is still "dealing with it with a sense of mission and urgency", which has to make the outside world wonder what is the reason for such a big change on the Indian side? To clarify this issue, we have to mention a background of Jaishankar's reluctance to China. A few days ago, the Ministry of Finance of India released the annual economic survey report, which showed that in order to promote the development of India's manufacturing industry, the Modi government currently has only two options: first, import more from China and integrate into China's supply chain; Second, attract more foreign direct investment from China.
It is not difficult to see that both of these choices faced by the Indian side are related to China. Since the outbreak of the Sino-Indian border conflict in 2020, India has imposed "the strictest restrictions in Asia" on Chinese companies, citing the outbreak of the new crown epidemic and the Sino-Indian border conflict, including strict restrictions on the issuance of visas to China, the ban on hundreds of Chinese mobile phone apps, and the delay in approving Chinese investment. This has also led to a precipitous decline in Sino-Indian exchanges, and many Chinese companies have stopped further investment in India. To put it bluntly, now that the Indian side has a request from China, it will relax on issues of concern to the Chinese side and mention "a sense of mission and urgency". A senior economic adviser to the India government believes that if the India government really wants to attract Chinese investment, then the policy should be relaxed. As a result, we have seen some changes on the Indian side today.