Jaishankar Comments on China’s Strategy in Managing Bilateral Relations, Foresees Mind Games

New Delhi, February 23: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the formidable challenge of establishing and sustaining equilibrium in India-China relations during an interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue on Friday. While addressing the immediate concern of Beijing deviating from established norms, leading to the border tensions in eastern Ladakh, Jaishankar emphasized the need for India not to relinquish its rights to leverage global factors for a more favorable balance. Addressing economic aspects, the minister projected a future scenario where the Chinese economy would plateau while India experiences growth. Citing Goldman Sachs projections suggesting that both countries could become USD 50 trillion plus economies by 2075, Jaishankar urged India to confidently use the international system to achieve the best possible outcomes. Jaishankar acknowledged the difficulty of arriving at and maintaining equilibrium in the bilateral relationship, emphasizing the substantial challenge both countries face. He cautioned against falling into the “mind game” orchestrated by China, which seeks to confine issues to the bilateral framework, excluding the perspectives of other nations. Discussing the historical understanding on the border issue, Jaishankar noted a departure from the status quo after nearly three decades, highlighting the challenge of refreshing and maintaining equilibrium. He emphasized the importance of not giving any competitive country a veto over India’s policy choices. On the economic front, Jaishankar acknowledged China’s earlier and more intensive economic development but foresaw a point where both countries would flatten out, with India experiencing growth. Despite acknowledging current economic disparities, he underscored the potential convergence of the two economies by 2075. In conclusion, Jaishankar underscored the necessity for both countries to construct an equilibrium while recognizing that occasional tensions may arise as each seeks to assert advantages. Overall, he urged a nuanced and self-reliant approach, steering clear of the mind games that may seek to limit the bilateral relationship to just India and China.