Chinese President Xi Jinping’s written speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Lima, Peru on Friday, in which he called for jointly promoting a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, boosted confidence and opened the door further for cooperation, Chinese and foreign business leaders said.
In the speech, Xi said the entire Asia-Pacific is deeply woven into the fabric of economic globalization, and is now an interdependent community with common interests and a shared future.
On the other hand, the world is in a new period of turbulence and transformation, said Xi, warning that the grave challenge of economic globalization is like sailing up a river – we either forge ahead or drift downstream.
The attempt to block economic cooperation under all sorts of pretexts and break up the interdependence of the world is nothing but backpedaling, Xi said.
Tougher times call for greater confidence, said the Chinese president. "We should see to it that economic globalization generates more positive outcomes and is taken to a new phase that is more dynamic, inclusive and sustainable."
The speech immediately drew positive feedback from business leaders at the APEC CEO Summit on Friday, with many lauding its emphasis on fostering cooperation.
“As APEC chair 2024, we are happy to host not only a very important delegation from China here in Peru, but also we are glad to have heard the message delivered this morning, the message of President Xi,” Julia Torreblanca, chair of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) 2024, said during an interview facilitated by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade on Friday.
Torreblanca added that the speech paves the way for collaboration and cooperation, which aligns with ABAC and APEC's core principles, and strengthens commercial ties across the Asia-Pacific region.
On Tuesday, prior to the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, ABAC, which was created by the APEC Economic Leaders to provide the business perspective on specific areas of cooperation to APEC Leaders, Ministers and Senior Officials, called on APEC Leaders to take decisive actions to boost sustainable and inclusive growth, while noting that challenges have become borderless.
Also responding to the speech on Friday, Fernando Zavala, chairman of APEC CEO Summit 2024, praised the speech for its “amazing” emphasis on fostering cooperation between China and Latin America and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
“I think the theme of what we heard today is that let’s remove barriers… to promote trade and promote entrepreneurs,” Zavala told reporters.
In the written speech, Xi also said that "we should help developing countries with their capacity building in science and technology and promote global flow of knowledge and technologies."
“President Xi's remarks on leveraging advances in science and technology for the benefit of all humanity are deeply encouraging,” Han Bicheng, founder and CEO of BrainCo, a Zhejiang-based brain-computer interface company, told the Global Times following the APEC CEO Summit in Lima on Friday.
Han said that “as an emerging technology firm, it is an honor to join the delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs attending the APEC CEO Summit in Peru,” highlighting the immense potential for cooperation in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, while committing to leveraging the company’s technologies to support people with disabilities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday met with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru. The Chinese President said that the Taiwan question, democracy and human rights, China's path and system, and China's development right are four red lines for China, which must not be challenged or crossed.
Xi told Biden that over the past four years, China-US relations have gone through ups and downs, but the two sides have also been engaged in dialogue and cooperation, adding the relationship has remained stable on the whole, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Under the stewardship of the two presidents, the two teams have worked out through consultations a number of guiding principles for China-US relations, and the two presidents have jointly brought China-US dialogue and cooperation back on track, Xi said.
This is the third face-to-face meeting between President Xi and President Biden, and all those three meetings were held during the two heads of state attended the multilateral organization summits, according to Yuyuantantian, a social media account affiliated with CCTV.
In Lima, President Xi insightfully listed seven experiences and inspirations that the two countries should draw from the course of their relations, namely, to have a correct strategic perception, match words with actions, treat each other as equals, not to challenge red lines and paramount principles, conduct more dialogue and cooperation, respond to the expectations of the people, and step forward to shoulder the responsibilities of major countries, according to an overview released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on the meeting.
Noting that the trajectory of China-US relations has proved the validity of these experiences and inspirations from the past 45 years of diplomatic ties, Xi said when the two countries treat each other as partners and seek common ground while shelving differences, their relationship will make considerable progress.
This meeting was held one year after the last time that the two Presidents met. The two sides reviewed the journey of China-US relations over the past four years, and drew experiences and inspirations from it. Their conversation was candid, in-depth and constructive. It focused on advancing dialogue and cooperation and properly managing differences during the transition period of the US government and on regional and international issues of mutual interest, and charted the course for bilateral relations, according to a handout published by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
China is ready to engage in dialogue, expand cooperation, and manage differences with the United States so as to sustain the hard-won momentum toward stability in China-US relations, Xi said.
From China's perspective, the goal of promoting a stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations remains unchanged. This meeting also demonstrates that we have not given up on this effort, Gao Fei, assistant president of China Foreign Affairs University, told Yuyuan Tantian.
The Xi-Biden meeting attracted attention of the global media. Global Times reporter observed that at least two hours prior to the meeting, there were Chinese, Peruvian and other global media journalists rushing to the streets near the meeting venue, jostling for prime camera positions and gathering material for their reports.
Four red lines
Xi said that contradictions and differences between two major countries like China and the US are unavoidable, but one side should not undermine the core interests of the other, let alone seek conflict or confrontation.
The four red lines clearly and comprehensively express China's principled stance on China-US relation; and it is said to the entire US government, not just a specific administration, said Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Lü said that it is hoped that the US will be refrained from leveraging issues concerning China's core interests due to its own internal political infights, as such actions could backlash for the US.
The path to swiftly achieve political objectives and drive economic growth in the US lies in cooperating with China and stabilizing political relations. Therefore, there remains significant room for China-US cooperation, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times, adding that a stable China-US relation benefits the US, regardless of which party assumes office.
Amid the US' strategic competition, China, on one hand, is resolutely safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests; on the other hand, hopes to stabilize the bilateral ties with a responsible attitude, said Wang Dong, an expert on China-US relations at Peking University.
Keep communication
Xi noted the recent US election, and stressed that China's goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-US relationship remains unchanged.
He said that China's commitment to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as principles for handling China-US relations remains unchanged.
China's position of resolutely safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests remains unchanged, and its desire to carry forward the traditional friendship between the Chinese and American peoples remains unchanged, he added.
Xi also stated China's positions on such issues as Taiwan, economic and trade ties, science and technology, cybersecurity, the South China Sea, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula, Xinhua reported.
For his part, Biden stated that the US-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, not just for the two peoples, but also for the future of the world. The two governments have a responsibility to the two peoples and the world to see that competition does not veer into conflict, per Xinhua.
The United States does not seek a new Cold War, does not seek to change China's system, does not seek to revitalize its alliances against China, does not support "Taiwan independence," has no intention to have a conflict with China, and does not see its Taiwan policy as a way to compete with China, said Biden, noting that the U.S. side will stay committed to the one-China policy.
The United States is prepared to enhance communication and dialogue with China during the transition period to have a better perception of each other and responsibly manage the differences, said Biden.
Xi's meeting with Biden, who is scheduled to step down in January 2025, represents a review on China-US relations which have largely maintained stable over the past four years under the guidance of head-of-state diplomacy; and the purpose of reviewing these experiences is clearly to solidify the foundation for stable, healthy, and sustainable bilateral ties to move forward, Diao Daming, an associate professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Diao said that four points that "remain unchanged" outlined by Xi signal a clear stance from China regarding future engagements with the US, especially in light of potential shifts resulting from changes in the US government.
Communication between China and the US, at any moment, is beneficial for stabilizing bilateral relations and for conveying positive energy and certainty to the world, said Diao.
César Chaman, editor general of Agencia Andina, told the Global Times on Saturday that a peaceful and stable China-US relationship benefits the whole world, adding that Peruvians do not wish to take sides.
The China Pavilion at COP29 was launched on Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The China Pavilion will host 10 themed days featuring various side activities during COP29, or the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled to run from Nov. 11 to 22.
Speaking at a side meeting that marks the opening of the pavilion, Zhao Yingmin, head of the Chinese delegation to COP29 and vice minister of China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said China has become an essential participant, contributor, and leader in global ecological civilization in recent years.
China is willing to work with the international community to strengthen political mutual trust, practice multilateralism, enhance global cooperation, and build a prosperous, clean, and beautiful world, he added.
Liu Zhenmin, China's special envoy for climate change, said China has always prioritized addressing climate change and views it as a crucial national strategy. Low-carbon development is a vital part of building a beautiful China, he said.
China's dedication to promoting green and low-carbon development has shown remarkable results and earned widespread international recognition, he added.
Liu expressed optimism that COP29 would enhance confidence within the global community, stressing the importance of upholding the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and diligently enforcing legal agreements.
He urged developed countries to fulfill their commitments by providing financial support to help developing countries enhance their capacity to respond to climate challenges.
China stands ready to work with the international community to uphold multilateralism, ensure fairness and justice in climate governance, respect market rules and trade freedom, and contribute to the success of COP29 to provide greater stability and certainty in global climate governance, Liu noted.
Saudi Arabia and Iran have engaged in constructive interactions at various levels, further strengthening reconciliation efforts and contributing significantly to regional peace and stability, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday in response to a question regarding the current relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, a reporter raised a question about remarks by Saudi netizens who warned Israel not to attack Iran and condemned actions in Gaza, noting that since China helped restore Saudi-Iran diplomatic ties, the relationship between the two countries has been improving.
When asked to comment on the current relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded that since the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran more than a year ago, their relationship has steadily improved. China welcomes this development and commends the efforts by both nations.
Lin said that Saudi Arabia and Iran have engaged in positive interactions at various levels, further strengthening their reconciliation and contributing to regional peace and stability. China will continue to support Saudi Arabia and Iran in moving forward together, enhancing mutual trust, and achieving lasting good-neighborly relations and friendship.
Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to letters from friendly personages from all walks of life in Brazil recently, encouraging them to continuously contribute to the cause of China-Brazil friendship.
With regard to the “Act Declaring the Maritime Zones under the Jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines” (hereinafter referred to as the “Maritime Zones Act”) and the “Act Authorizing the President of the Philippines to Establish the Archipelagic Sea Lanes in Philippine Archipelagic Waters” (hereinafter referred to as the “Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act”) announced by the Republic of the Philippines on November 8, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China solemnly states the following:
I. The Philippine Maritime Zones Act illegally includes China’s Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Qundao (Nansha Islands) and relevant waters into the maritime zones of the Philippines, and attempts to enshrine the illegal award of the South China Sea arbitration in the form of domestic legislation. China strongly condemns and firmly rejects this as the move gravely infringes upon China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall by no means be affected by the enactment of the Act.
II. China has sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, and Zhongsha Qundao (Zhongsha Islands), including Huangyan Dao, and the adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. The aforementioned territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of China have solid historical and legal basis, and are compliant with international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
III. The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain (the Treaty of Paris), the 1900 Treaty Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines (the Treaty of Washington), and the 1930 Convention Between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States Regarding the Boundary Between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago. The Philippines’ territory so defined has nothing to do with China’s Huangyan Dao and Nansha Qundao. The Philippines has invaded and illegally occupied Mahuan Dao, Feixin Dao, Zhongye Dao, Nanyao Dao, Beizi Dao, Xiyue Dao, Shuanghuang Shazhou and Siling Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao, and by doing so has seriously violated international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. It broke its own promise and kept a warship illegally grounded at Ren’ai Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao for decades, thus infringing upon China’s territorial sovereignty and violating the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), especially its Article 5 which asks the parties to refrain from action of inhabiting on the uninhabited islands and reefs. Once again China urges the Philippines to immediately withdraw all its personnel and facilities from the aforementioned islands and reefs and immediately tow away the warship illegally grounded at Ren’ai Jiao. The establishment of the so-called “Kalayaan Island Group” beyond its own territorial scope by the Philippines infringes upon China’s territorial sovereignty, and is illegal and invalid.
IV. The Philippines’ unilateral initiation of the South China Sea arbitration without the Chinese government’s prior consent seriously violates UNCLOS and substantially impairs the integrity and authority of UNCLOS. The Arbitral Tribunal handled the case ultra vires and rendered the award in distortion of law; hence the award violates international law including UNCLOS, and is null and void. China has neither accepted or participated in the arbitration, nor does China accept or recognize the so-called award. China opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on the award. China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall under no circumstances be affected by the award.
V. The Philippines’ attempt to whitewash its illegal claims and actions in the South China Sea by adopting the Maritime Zones Act in the name of implementing UNCLOS is illegal and invalid. The Act seriously violates the DOC and will inevitably complicate the situation in the South China Sea. China will firmly respond to any infringement or provocative actions taken by the Philippine side in the South China Sea citing the Act as the ground.
VI. The Chinese side urges the Philippine side to earnestly respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, immediately stop any unilateral moves that may escalate disputes or complicate the situation, and uphold peace and stability in South China Sea through concrete action.
VII. Many provisions contained in the Philippines’ Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act are incompatible with international law and resolutions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Chinese side demands that the Philippine side earnestly abide by international law and refrain from undermining the legitimate rights of all parties under international law, including UNCLOS.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday extended congratulations to Donald Trump on his election as president of the United States, urging the two countries to find the right way to get along in the new era.
Xi called for the two countries to strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.
In mid-October, 77-year-old University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer visited China. He delivered lectures at Chinese universities and engaged in a debate on global order and US-China relations with Yan Xuetong, director of the Institute of International Studies, Tsinghua University. During book signings and photo sessions, he was warmly welcomed by Chinese readers.
Mearsheimer is a prominent realist scholar in international relations. He gained recognition for his 2001 book The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, which argues that conflict between great powers is inevitable. This viewpoint has sparked significant debate about great power relations.
More than 20 years later, the international landscape has shifted dramatically, but Mearsheimer's views remain unchanged. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times reporters Liu Xin, Zhao Juecheng and Yang Sheng in Beijing, Mearsheimer shared his concerns about current issues like China-US relations and the Ukraine crisis, criticizing US foreign policy. He also predicts that security competition between the US and China will intensify.
As a scholar rather than a politician, Mearsheimer is confident in his theory, but he emphasizes his openness to debate, and looks forward to future China-US ties proving him wrong. The following is part of the interview with Mearsheimer. US foreign policy fosters chaos
GT: In recent years, China has described the global situation as a "major change not seen in a century." What are your thoughts on this?
Mearsheimer: I think it's true. The structure of the system has changed fundamentally.
When I was young, the world was bipolar. The US-Soviet competition defined international politics in large part. The Soviet Union disappeared in December 1991, and we went from a bipolar world to a unipolar world. In around 2017 that unipolar world came to an end, and we moved into a multipolar world. We went from a world where the US was the only great power on the planet to one where the US, China, and Russia were all great powers.
This is the first time that we have faced a multipolar world since World War II when you go from unipolarity to multipolarity.
The change in China-US relationship has also been huge. During the unipolar period, China-US relations were generally very good. Then when we went from unipolarity to multipolarity, which meant China was now a great power, it was a peer competitor of the US, and relations between the US and China fundamentally changed and became much more conflictual.
GT: What is your primary concern regarding complicated international relations at this time?
Mearsheimer: I'm concerned about three big issues. One is I'm concerned about the China-US relationship. I have long argued that relationship would be intensely competitive. I'm concerned that competition might turn into a war, and I don't want that to happen.
I'm also deeply concerned about the war in Ukraine and the possibility of escalation where the US, and NATO more generally, come into the conflict. Conflict between Russia on one side and Ukraine and the West on the other side will go on for decades… The US has done a terrible job handling the situation in Ukraine. The US is principally responsible for causing the war in Ukraine.
Then I'm concerned about the Middle East, and the wars that are taking place there. As is the case with Ukraine, it is possible that the US and Russia could be pulled into a war in the Middle East, although that's not likely.
GT: Do you think US foreign policy is contributing to global stability or fostering chaos?
Mearsheimer: I think it's fostering chaos if you have to choose between those two descriptions. It's fostering chaos in Ukraine and the Middle East. The US should have acted in fundamentally different ways.
The principal cause of the war in Ukraine was the West's efforts to bring Ukraine into NATO. The US was the driving force behind that decision. And the Russians made it clear from the very beginning that was unacceptable. Nevertheless, we continue to push to bring Ukraine into NATO.
Instead of trying to shut the war down, the US has, if anything, sought to push it forward, aiming to keep it going so Ukraine can defeat the Russians. The US should not have tried to bring Ukraine into NATO. Once the war started, the US should have gone to great lengths to prevent it.
With regard to the Middle East, the US should have gone to great lengths to push Israel to accept the Palestinian state, which is the root cause of the problem in the Middle East. The US should now be trying to prevent the war in Gaza, shut down the war with regard to Hezbollah, and make sure that the war that is unfolding involving Iran on one side and the US and Israel on the other side is brought to an end immediately. But the US is not doing that. The US is helping the Israelis to cause greater and greater trouble in the Middle East.
If you look at our performance on the world stage, we have been fostering chaos, not contributing to international stability.
GT: The advancement of technology has repeatedly altered the course of human history. Another renowned realist, Henry Kissinger, also began focusing on the impact of artificial intelligence on international relations in his later years. Do you think AI or other emerging technologies could change the "tragedy of great power politics?"
Mearsheimer: I don't think AI would transform the tragedy of great power politics. Why do we have this tragedy? It's because there is no higher authority in the international system that can come to the rescue of a state if it gets in trouble. At the same time, in the international system, you have powerful states that sometimes have bad intentions toward you.
AI doesn't solve that problem. What we need is a higher authority. We need a night watchman that can protect you. As long as you don't have a higher authority, AI doesn't matter.
AI could significantly influence how security competition is waged. Nuclear weapons did exactly that. Nuclear weapons, in a way, were revolutionary weapons. They are weapons of mass destruction. We've never seen anything that creates destruction on the scale of nuclear weapons. And nuclear weapons have all sorts of consequences on how states interact with each other.
However, nuclear weapons do not change the fundamental nature of international politics. We live in a nuclear world today. Yet we have a China-US competition, just like we had a US-Japan competition in the 1930s and early 1940s when there were no nuclear weapons.
Competition not 'bad guy' games
GT: In 2001, you published The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. According to your theory, known in academic circles as "offensive realism," competition and conflict between China and the US are inevitable during China's rise, and the US will strive to contain China. What led you to this conclusion?
Mearsheimer: I've long argued that once China rose and once China became powerful, the US would move in to make sure that China didn't become too powerful. This is the tragedy of great power politics.
The US and China had excellent relations during the unipolar period. The US pursued a policy of engagement. I argued at the time that once China became really prosperous, it would translate that economic might into military might which China should have done. I'm not being critical of China. The US would fear China and you would have this security competition set in. This just happens with great powers. It's not peculiar to China or peculiar to the US.
A lot of Chinese people think that the root of the problem is American behavior. The Americans are the bad guys. Many Americans think the root of the problem is the Chinese are the bad guys. This is not my view.
This is just how international politics works. When you have two very powerful states, they are going to end up fearing each other, and they are going to end up competing with each other. There's no way around that.
GT: You discussed Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan island and its negative impact on China-US relations with Chinese media. You mentioned that while a clash in the Taiwan Straits is unlikely in the near future, competition over the island will continue. What led you to this conclusion?
Mearsheimer: It was not smart for Nancy Pelosi to come to Taiwan and make provocative remarks. It is in America's interest to not speak loudly when it comes to Taiwan, because Taiwan is such a hot-button issue for China. What Pelosi did and others have done and will do is not smart.
I think the Taiwan question is a remarkably dangerous situation. Because for China, Taiwan is sacred territory. At the same time, the US wants to keep Taiwan on its side of the ledger, because Taiwan is strategically important to the US. If the US gave up on defending Taiwan, that would have negative strategic consequences. What we have here is a situation where Taiwan matters enormously to China, and it matters enormously to the US.
My view is that despite this dangerous situation, it's not likely that we will have a war anytime soon over Taiwan. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I think it's not likely.
GT: Could you share your predictions for the future of China-US relations?
Mearsheimer: We already have an intense security competition. It has been somewhat dampened by the fact that the US is pinned down in Ukraine and pinned down in the Middle East. If the US was not pinned down in Ukraine and in the Middle East, the security competition in East Asia would be more intense.
Moving forward, this security competition is not going to go away. We will likely have some major crises in the decades ahead. But let's hope that leaders from both China and the US act smartly and find diplomatic solutions to the crises and don't end up in a shooting war with each other.
I just want to be very clear I'm not happy about the tragedy of great power politics. With regard to China-US relations, I hope that I'm wrong. I hope that over the next five years, the US and China work out harmonious relations and we all live happily ever after. Obviously, I don't think that's going to happen.
What would prove me wrong is if we had good relations. In other words, if China could rise peacefully. Let's hope that I'm wrong.
Not 'a dinosaur' in China
GT: You assert that the US cannot accept China emerging as a peer power. What motivates you to engage in these exchanges with China?
Mearsheimer: I don't think the root of the problem is Chinese behavior. I don't think the Chinese are the bad guys, and the Americans are the good guys. I think this is just how international politics works. And although I'm an American, the fact is that this is a case of a tragic situation.
I think it's very important that people hear my argument and think about it. You don't have to agree with me, but it's very important to understand the argument. Because if you're interested in maximizing our prospects of avoiding a hot war, understanding the nature of the conflict really matters.
GT: What's the difference between your Chinese audience and your US audience?
Mearsheimer: From the Soviet Union collapsed until about 2017, when we moved into a unipolar moment, the US foreign policy was all about what I call liberal hegemony. What we were trying to do was spread liberalism around the world. We were very powerful. And we had all these liberal ideas about international politics.
I was considered to be a dinosaur in the US. Nobody was interested in listening to me. Most people in the US said that my thinking about international politics was outdated and that liberal ideas were the wave of the future.
I first came to China in 2003 and I came numerous times after that and would talk to the Chinese people about my theory and about great power politics, they did not think I was a dinosaur in large part. Chinese thinkers were interested in great power politics.
Now, with the end of unipolarity and the coming of multipolarity, and the fact that we now have this security competition between the US and China, I think more people in the US pay attention to me.
China and India recently reached resolutions on relevant issues concerning the border. At the moment, the Chinese and Indian frontier troops are implementing the resolutions in an orderly way, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference on Wednesday in response to a question regarding the process of disengagement in the India-China border.
While analysts highlighted that the disengagement marks an end to the standoff, they emphasized that both countries need to collaborate to restore bilateral ties and India needs to shift focus from geopolitical rivalry and embrace the chance of meaningful cooperation.
India Today reported on Wednesday that Indian and Chinese military commanders are scheduled to meet at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to confirm the removal of temporary structures and vehicles.
Indian Express said on Wednesday that India and China have completed the process of disengagement in two border areas. Citing sources, it said patrolling will commence soon, adding that talks would continue at the local commanders' level and there will be an exchange of sweets on Thursday.
"Disengagement is the first step on implementing the resolution, meaning Chinese and Indian troops will no longer confront each other directly at the border. This does not restore the situation to what it was before April 2020 but rather establishes a buffer zone between the two forces to reduce tensions," Liu Zongyi, director of the Center for South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
The next step may involve further consultations on implementing patrols, but the actual implementation may have to wait until spring next year when weather condition is suitable, Liu said.
According to a report from New Delhi Television on Tuesday, China and India "will each continue to have surveillance options" and will inform the other prior to stepping out on patrol "to avoid any miscommunication."
Liu said that the disengagement at the two areas will lay the groundwork for negotiations on similar arrangements and portals along the western section of the China-India border and other areas.
The resolution reached by China and India has garnered widespread attention. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press conference on Tuesday that "we're closely following the developments… We welcome any reduction in tensions along the border." He also noted that the US has spoken with its Indian partners and been briefed on the matter but did not play any role in the resolution.
"US has long viewed India as a key tool and frontline force to contain China. With fewer border disputes between China and India, the US loses a major lever to fuel discord between the two nations. However, the gradual resolution of the border issue is clearly in the best interest of both China and India," Liu said.
Liu said that China remains committed to viewing India as a development partner and hopes both nations can advance together and share the opportunity for development.
Achieving these goals requires joint efforts, and China cannot do it alone. Both countries need to collaborate to restore bilateral ties. India should move beyond an outdated Cold War thinking and avoid viewing US-China competition as a strategic opportunity. Instead, it needs to shift focus from geopolitical rivalry and power balancing, minimize unnecessary conflicts, and embrace the chance for meaningful cooperation, Liu said.
