With General Li Shangfu's appointment as China's new Defence Minister and State Councillor, his visit to India in April for the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting is anticipated to create a breakthrough in India-China relations, especially after the LAC crisis began in 2020. India and China have held 17 rounds of Corps Commanders' talks to resolve the LAC stand-off, and the two countries are exploring the possibility of holding a bilateral meeting between the two Defence Ministers during the visit.

 

General Li's appointment underscores the current focus on PLA modernisation, and he has been tasked with spearheading this initiative. He is the first of China's Defence Ministers to come from the aerospace sector and has been sanctioned by the U.S. over China's purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia. The visit of General Li will also provide an opportunity for the two countries to further discuss the disengagement of the remaining two friction points and create conditions to "restore normalcy" in their relations.

 

The resolution of the LAC stand-off is a work in progress, and in the last three years, the combination of military and diplomacy working in lockstep has made progress in resolving it. Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Shilpak Ambule held talks in Beijing with senior Chinese border officials for the first in-person meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) since July 2019. The visit of General Li will be a crucial step in the resolution of the ongoing stand-off between India and China and an important opportunity for the two countries to restore normalcy in their relationship. Reference source: TH

 

UPSC Main Exam Question

 

Discuss the significance of General Li Shangfu's visit to India as China's new Defence Minister in April 2023, and how it may impact the ongoing India-China border standoff.

 

Answer: General Li Shangfu, China's newly appointed Defence Minister and State Councillor, is scheduled to visit India in April 2023 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meet. This will be his first high-level military visit to India since the Line of Actual Control (LAC) crisis began in 2020, and it holds significant importance for both India and China.

 

General Li's visit to India presents an opportunity for both countries to discuss the disengagement of the remaining two friction points along the LAC and create conditions to restore normalcy in their relations. The visit of China's Defence Minister can help in building mutual trust and confidence between the two countries, which is crucial for maintaining peace and stability in the region.

 

The bilateral meeting between General Li and his Indian counterpart, along with the discussions at the SCO meet, can help in addressing the strategic and security concerns of both India and China. It is expected that the two countries will discuss issues related to regional security, counter-terrorism, and the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.

 

General Li's appointment by President Xi Jinping underlines the current focus on People's Liberation Army (PLA) modernisation, and his visit to India will provide an opportunity to discuss military-to-military ties and cooperation in defence technology. It is also worth noting that General Li has been sanctioned by the US over China's purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, which may have implications for India's defence relations with the US.

 

In conclusion, General Li Shangfu's visit to India as China's new Defence Minister in April 2023 holds significant importance for both countries, especially in the context of the ongoing border standoff. The visit provides an opportunity for both sides to discuss important security and strategic issues, and work towards resolving the border standoff through diplomatic and military channels.