Safeguard Clergyman Rajnath Singh on Thursday held conversations with his Chinese partner Li Shangfu at the Shanghai Participation Association Guard Pastors Meeting in the public capital.

Since the Galwan Valley Clash in 2020, this was the first ministerial meeting between the two nuclear-powered neighboring nations.

Border Violations between India China

Raksha Mantri Rajntah Singh made it clear to his Chinese counterpart that the development of relations between India and China is based on peace and quiet at the borders. Singh added that all issues at the Line of Genuine Control (LAC) should be settled as per existing reciprocal arrangements and responsibilities.

He repeated that infringement of existing arrangements has disintegrated the whole premise of respective relations and separation at the line will legitimately be followed with de-acceleration, the Protection Service said in its proclamation.

Rajnath Singh talked with Li Shangfu four days after the 18th session of the China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting on April 23 at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting site on the Chinese side.

Since May 2020, India and China have been fighting over their border in eastern Ladakh. After the battle in the Galwan Valley, which saw 20 Indian Army soldiers die, tensions between the two Asian superpowers grew. The deadly battle reportedly resulted in the deaths of 35 to 40 People’s Liberation Army soldiers. The Galwan Valley conflict denoted the most serious military clash among India and China in many years.

On April 18, 2023, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will preside over the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Defense Ministers Meeting in New Delhi. Participants include defense ministers from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.