PM Modi’s remarks on border misadventures ‘noted’: China

For the first time since the face-off along the LAC in Ladakh, Modi had spoken in his Independence Day speech about “terrorism” and “expansionism” in the same sentence, and said India is fighting both “valiantly” — from the LoC to the LAC.

Written by Shubhajit Roy

New Delhi | Updated: August 18, 2020 11:16 AM IST

2 min read

PM Modi at Red Fort during the Independence Day function on August 15, 2020.(Source: Twitter/@BJP4India)

Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi bracketed “terrorism” and “expansionism” and said that “misadventures along the border” have been given “befitting response”, China on Monday said it has “noted” the PM’s remarks and called for “mutual respect and support” between the neighbours.

In response to a question in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, “We [have] noted Prime Minister Modi’s remarks. As two neighbours and emerging major countries each with a population of over 1 billion, the growth of China-India relations will not only benefit our countries and people, but also add stability and positive energy to peace and prosperity of the region and the world at large.

“Mutual respect and support between China and India is the right path and serves the long-term interests of both countries. China will continue to work with India to enhance political mutual trust, properly manage differences, strengthen practical cooperation and jointly uphold the big picture of bilateral relations.”

Modi has often referred to terrorism and Pakistan in the same context previously.

In Saturday’s address, Modi also emphasised India’s commitment to strengthen the national security apparatus, and said “new roads are being constructed everywhere — from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh”. This was a reference to DSDBO (Darbuk-Shyonk-Daulat Beg Oldie Road), a key infrastructure project in eastern Ladakh, close to the LAC.

The Prime Minister had said, “Be it terrorism or expansionism, India is fighting against it valiantly.”

Shubhajit Roy

Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism ‘2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury’s special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban’s capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More

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Narendra Modi