External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, providing an update on the current state of India-China relations, which have seen improvement following the tensions that arose from the 2020 military clash in eastern Ladakh. The clash, which resulted in fatalities on both sides, marked a significant deterioration in the two countries' ties, making the situation "abnormal" until recent diplomatic efforts led to progress.

Jaishankar explained that continuous diplomatic engagement since the clash has helped steer the relationship in a positive direction. He affirmed that India remains committed to engaging with China through bilateral talks to resolve the border issue in a fair and mutually acceptable manner.

The minister outlined three key principles for managing the border areas:

1. Both sides must strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
2. Neither side should attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo.
3. Past agreements and understandings must be fully adhered to.

He recalled the large-scale troop mobilization by China along the LAC in 2020, which caused face-offs with Indian forces and disruptions in patrolling. Jaishankar lauded the Indian armed forces for their rapid counter-deployment despite logistical challenges and the COVID-19 situation.

The minister highlighted that diplomatic efforts, including nearly two dozen rounds of talks between military commanders, helped defuse tensions. The October agreement between the two countries led to the withdrawal of troops and the resumption of patrols along previously agreed routes. This agreement was implemented as a roadmap for peace and tranquility along the LAC.

Jaishankar noted that the immediate priority of disengaging troops from friction points in eastern Ladakh, particularly in Depsang and Demchok, had been fully achieved. The next step is to focus on de-escalation by addressing the amassing of troops along the LAC.

His remarks followed a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, which took place in November. This meeting marked the first ministerial-level interaction between the two countries since the disengagement agreement.

The positive steps taken on disengagement and patrolling in areas like Depsang, Demchok, and the Pangong Lake have been crucial in improving India-China relations and are seen as a step toward long-term peace along the LAC.