NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday questioned the rising imports from China at a time when relations between the two countries are strained.
Initiating a debate on the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi wondered how the trade deficit with China has increased when the government claims to have “no relations” with China since 2020.
Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the House that India-China ties have been abnormal since 2020 when peace and tranquillity in border areas were disturbed due to Chinese actions.
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“The external affairs minister said our relations with China are not same as earlier … they are not normal. This government’s left hand does not know what the right hand is doing,” Gogoi said.
“The foreign minister says that ever since we have had clashes with China on border our relation is not same but how is that the import from China has increased… we are importing even more from China, trade deficit with China has increased… is this the proof?” he questioned.
The Deputy Leader of Congress also questioned the government over demonetisation and electoral bonds.
Earlier, India on Tuesday said it is committed to remaining engaged with China to find a fair and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary issue but made it clear that its ties with Beijing will be contingent upon strictly respecting the sanctity of the LAC and adhering to the pacts on border management with no attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo.
Making a statement in the Lok Sabha in which he articulated three key principles for engagement with China, Jaishankar said the disengagement of troops has been achieved in “full” in eastern Ladakh through a step-by-step process, culminating in Depsang and Demchok. India now expects the commencement of talks on remaining issues that it had placed on the agenda, he added.
Jaishankar’s detailed statement came weeks after the armies of India and China completed the disengagement of troops from two last face-off points in eastern Ladakh, effectively ending the over four-year military face-off along the LAC in that region.
“The next priority will be to consider de-escalation, that would address the massing of troops along the LAC with associated accompaniments,” he said.
“It is also evident that the management of the border areas will require further attention in the light of our recent experiences.”
The external affairs minister, referring to previous disengagements in some of the other friction points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, said the temporary steps can be “revisited”. (PTI)
