NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday held talks with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun in Qingdao, delivering a pointed message on the need to stabilise and simplify India-China ties. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Summit.
Sharing the development on social media, Singh stated: “Held talks with Admiral Dong Jun, the Defence Minister of China, on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao. We had a constructive and forward-looking exchange of views on bilateral matters.”
In a clear signal to Beijing, Singh stressed that it was crucial for both nations to “avoid adding new complexities” to their already strained relationship and instead maintain forward momentum.
The interaction marked a rare high-level engagement between the two sides, taking place amid attempts to recalibrate ties following the prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since 2020.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Resumes After 6-Year Halt
Singh also expressed satisfaction over the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been suspended since 2020 — first due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later because of border tensions. “Expressed my happiness on the restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly six years,” he said, underlining the pilgrimage’s significance for cultural and people-to-people ties.
India Holds Tough Line on Terrorism at SCO
The meeting with Dong came a day after India refused to endorse a joint SCO statement that would have softened its stance on terrorism. Rajnath Singh blocked the declaration after overnight negotiations failed to produce consensus — a requirement under SCO norms.
Addressing the 10-nation forum, Singh was unequivocal in asserting that countries sheltering terrorists or using terrorism as a policy tool must be held accountable. “Perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts, including cross-border terrorism, must be brought to justice. There can be no double standards,” he said, with counterparts from Pakistan and China in attendance.
The Indian delegation opposed Pakistan’s attempt — allegedly supported by China as the current SCO chair — to omit references to the Pahalgam massacre while trying to include issues related to Balochistan and Jammu & Kashmir.
“Terrorism and the proliferation of WMDs in the hands of non-state actors are grave threats to peace and prosperity,” Singh said. “Decisive and united action is required to tackle these challenges. SCO must not shy away from naming and shaming such practices.”
NSA Doval’s Meeting with Wang Yi Sets the Tone
Just days before Rajnath’s meeting, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Beijing on June 23 and met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two officials discussed recent developments and ways to strengthen bilateral ties, including through people-to-people exchanges.
Doval underscored the importance of tackling terrorism in all its forms for the stability of the region and reiterated India’s concerns on various global and regional issues, as per the Ministry of External Affairs.
Together, Doval’s diplomatic outreach and Rajnath Singh’s strong stance reflect a dual-track approach by New Delhi: resuming dialogue where possible, but not at the cost of core national security interests.
