China Appoints New Ambassador to India Amid Ongoing Border Tensions
China designates its new India ambassador after 18-month delay
After an unusual 18-month delay due to strained bilateral relations following a violent border clash in eastern Ladakh in mid-2020, China has appointed Xu Feihong as its new ambassador to India. This appointment is not necessarily seen as a sign of improving ties between the two nations.
Xu Feihong, who has previously served as Ambassador to Afghanistan and Romania, will soon take up his post in New Delhi, according to a report by India’s PTI news agency on May 8, citing the Chinese foreign ministry.
Xu succeeds Sun Weidong, who completed his tenure in October 2022. Sun, previously China’s envoy to Pakistan, is now the Vice Foreign Minister responsible for China’s South Asia policy.
Xu’s appointment comes amid ongoing military and diplomatic talks aimed at resolving the extended standoff along the Ladakh border. Relations between China and India have been severely strained since the border clash at Pangong Tso (lake) on May 5, 2020.
So far, the two sides have held 21 rounds of corps commander-level talks to address the standoff. According to the Chinese military, both countries have agreed to disengage from four areas: Galwan Valley, Pangong Lake, Hot Springs, and Jianan Daban (Gogra).
India is urging the Chinese People’s Liberation Army to disengage from the Depsang and Demchok areas, stating that normal relations cannot be restored as long as border tensions persist.
Given this context, Xu’s appointment might signal minimal diplomatic gestures, while underlying mistrust and strategic concerns continue, noted a report from Firstpost on May 8.
Amid these geopolitical tensions and diplomatic manoeuvres by President Xi Jinping, the future of Sino-Indian relations remains uncertain, with both nations cautiously navigating cooperation and confrontation.
In a related development, India has deployed three warships to Singapore as part of naval exercises with friendly countries in the South China Sea, where China is involved in territorial disputes with its neighbors, according to a report by the Times of India on May 7.
The long-range operational deployment includes the guided-missile destroyer INS Delhi, fleet tanker INS Shakti, and anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan, under Eastern Fleet commander Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar. This deployment coincides with the Indian Navy monitoring Chinese satellite and missile tracking ships in the Indian Ocean Region.
With an assertive China in focus, India has been strengthening its defense ties with ASEAN countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines through regular joint exercises, military exchanges, and training programs.
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