Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, the Chinese foreign ministry on Monday said that it is ready to enhance mutual trust between India and China, adding that the two sides will have to respect each other.
PM Modi in speech had said “India’s sovregnity is supreme” and also mentioned of strengthening the Indian armed forces. He had also talked about the immense potential that Indian Army showed in the recent Galwan valley clash.
“Whoever tried to threaten the sovereignty of our country right from the LOC {Line of Control with Pakistan} to the LAC, the army [and] our brave soldiers have given a befitting reply. The world has seen what our brave soldiers can do in Ladakh, what the country can do to defend its resolve,” Modi had said.
On June 15, twenty Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese Troops along the Line of Actual Control(LAC) while China suffered 43 casualties.
Commenting on PM Modi’s I-Day speech, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: “We have noted Prime Minister Modi’s speech. We are close neighbours, we are all emerging countries with over one billion people.”
“So the sound development of bilateral ties not only serves the interest of the two peoples but also stability, peace, prosperity of the region and the whole world. The right path for the two sides is to respect and support each other as this serves our long-term interests,” Zhao was quoted as saying at a news briefing.
“So, China stands ready to work with India to enhance our political mutual trust, properly manage our differences, step-up practical cooperation and safeguard the long-term development of bilateral ties,” he said.
Zhao concluded two perspectives from Modi’s speech: “One is that Modi has become tougher and put on a combative look,” Zhao said. “The other explanation is that the Indian government thought it had done enough by demonstrating its attitude toward China. Therefore, what Modi said in his Independence Day speech is not very important – but what he will do next is.”