External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today asserted that India won’t tolerate any attempt by China to unilaterally change the status quo at the Line of Actual Control (LAC)
”Diplomatically, we are clear with the Chinese…we won’t tolerate attempts to unilaterally change LAC. If they continue to do that and build up forces which constitute serious concerns in the border areas, our relationship is not normal and that abnormality is evident in the last few years,” he said in an obvious reference to the ongoing India-China military stand-off at eastern Ladakh.
The minister was responding to members who raised questions on his statement in the Rajya Sabha on India’s foreign policy.
He made it clear that the government was not going out of its way to nudge Indian companies to buy Russian oil but only asking them to go for the best option. ”It depends on the market, it’s a sensible policy to go where we get the best deal in the interest of the Indian people,” he added.
Jaishankar said India’s foreign policy was there to serve the Indian people. The government would do whatever it took to discharge that responsibility. ”It could be in ensuring international support for our policies or in the acceptance globally of our interests and objectives. These may be difficult times but it is also an occasion to display our leadership and make a strong contribution to global peace, stability, growth and security,” he added.
Jaishankar said the government was extremely conscious that foreign policy must respond to the requirements and demands of society.
He expressed confidence that the House would continue to extend its fullest support to the government’s efforts and encourage its success in the G-20 Presidency in particular and foreign policy in general.