Ties with China ‘complex’ despite talks, MEA in its annual report

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs released its annual report on Monday and strongly criticized both Pakistan and China.

The ministry said in the report that India’s relations with China are ‘complicated’. In April-May 2020, due to Chinese attempts to unilaterally change the status quo on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, peace and tranquility in the border areas were severely damaged.

These efforts received an appropriate response from the Indian armed forces, the report said. The Annual Report 2022 of the Ministry of External Affairs said the two sides agreed that pending the final settlement of border-related issues, the essential basis for the overall development of bilateral relations would be maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two sides have agreed to resolve issues along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh through peaceful dialogue and continue dialogue with the Chinese side to completely disengage from all friction points and bring early peace and tranquillity along the India-China border. However, China’s unilateral efforts to change the status quo have subsequently affected bilateral relations.