Will Xi or won’t Xi? There is no official word on President Xi Jinping missing the Leader Summit at the G20, but reports suggest that Premier Li Qiang could attend instead. While speculations continue, the relationship between India and China continues to be frosty, especially as China released the 2023 edition of its “standard’’ map showing, which laid claim on Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin.
India has strongly objected. "We have today lodged a strong protest through diplomatic channels with the Chinese side on the so called 2023 'standard map' of China that lays claim on India's territory," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated. The MEA said this would “complicate the resolution of the boundary question".
India is not the only country to object to the map. Protests have also been lodged by the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Taiwan. In a statement, the Philippines foreign ministry said, “This latest attempt to legitimise China’s purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” Malaysia rejected China’s claims on the South China Sea. Indonesia too rejected China’s map saying that it must abide by The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982.
What has added to the further iciness in the relationship between India and China has been the docking of the spy ship Shi Yang 6 in Sri Lanka. This is not the first time India has objected to the surveillance ship docking in Sri Lanka. And this tension is spilling into the New Delhi-Colombo relationship. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has cancelled his visit to Sri Lanka to ‘review’ the entire gamut of defence ties with the island nation; has been put off with no later date being declared.
While China may be stirring trouble between India’s neighbourhood, President Vladimir Putin skipping the G20 meeting together with President Xi, if the rumours are to be believed, could suggest the two coming closer. Putin spoke to Modi a few days later to explain his position. In a press conference in the Capital Denis Alipov, the Russian Ambassador said: “We advocate for improvement in relations with India and China. Having said that we don’t interfere in the disputes India has with China."
The new China map had “discrepancies’’ for Russia too. “We have not made any statement...We have noticed India doesn’t exaggerate the issue as well. It doesn’t change the situation on the ground.”
