The Congress on Tuesday stepped up its attack on the government’s handling of India-China relations, calling for a long-overdue debate in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament. The party expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will finally agree to such a discussion, asserting that if Parliament could debate the border crisis during the 1962 war with China, there is no reason why it cannot be done now.
The criticism intensified after External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping and updated him on recent developments in bilateral ties. Taking a sharp swipe, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused Jaishankar of damaging India's foreign policy. Reacting on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi wrote, "I guess the Chinese foreign minister will come and apprise Modi about recent developments in China-India ties. The EAM is now running a full blown circus aimed at destroying India’s foreign policy."
Jaishankar and other foreign ministers from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states met with President Xi in a formal interaction during the SCO summit in Astana. Following Gandhi’s remarks, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh also issued a statement highlighting what he called the deteriorating state of bilateral ties with China, despite the government’s narrative suggesting progress.
Ramesh pointed to Jaishankar’s July 14 meeting with China’s Vice President Han Zheng, where the EAM had claimed that India-China relations have been "steadily improving" since the October 2023 meeting between PM Modi and President Xi in Kazan. He questioned this claim by citing several recent developments:
- Operation Sindoor: According to Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Rahul R. Singh, China supported Pakistan with live intelligence during India’s counter-operations, effectively aiding the enemy and turning Pakistan into a testing ground for modern military technologies like the J-10C fighter jets, PL-15E missiles, and drones.
- Strategic Military Ties: Pakistan is expected to procure Chinese J-35 stealth fighter jets, intensifying concerns over China’s increasing role in South Asia’s military dynamics.
- Trade and Technology Restrictions: China has imposed export restrictions on critical materials, including rare-earth magnets, speciality fertilisers, and tunnel-boring machines—key for India's infrastructure development.
- Dependence on Imports: Sectors such as telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and electronics continue to depend heavily on Chinese imports, even as India’s trade deficit with China surged to a record USD 99.2 billion. Apple Supply Chain Impact: Ramesh also pointed out that hundreds of Chinese workers had exited India’s Foxconn facilities, posing a challenge to India's aspiration of becoming a global manufacturing hub for Apple products.
In light of these developments, Ramesh demanded that both Prime Minister Modi and EAM Jaishankar explain the current state of India-China ties in Parliament. "When are the External Affairs Minister and the Prime Minister going to take the people of India into confidence and hold a detailed debate on China, as the Congress has been demanding since 2020?" he asked.
He stressed that building a national consensus on China-related challenges was vital, especially given China’s rise as the world’s leading manufacturing power and its likely overtaking of the US as the largest economy within the next decade. Ramesh added, “If Parliament could debate the border situation in November 1962 at the height of the Chinese invasion, then why not now—particularly when both governments claim to be seeking renormalisation of ties, albeit without restoring the pre-May 2020 status quo along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh?”
Also Read: 'India-China ties have stabilised': Jaishankar on meeting VP Han
At a separate press conference, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate took a dig at Jaishankar’s earlier comments where he had called India a “small economy” that couldn't challenge a larger power, saying such statements explain why he continues to downplay China’s threats. Shrinate also raised questions over the recent Pahalgam terror attack. "Twenty-eight martyred families are still awaiting justice. How did the terrorists infiltrate over 200 kilometres into Indian territory, carry out the Pahalgam attack, and disappear without a trace? Why is there no accountability or transparency?" she asked.
She further alleged links between the BJP and a suspected spy, Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested in May for allegedly working for Pakistan’s intelligence agency. "She crossed into Pakistan claiming to be a Haryana BJP member. Investigations revealed she was in contact with her Pakistani handler Danish, based at the Pakistan High Commission, who facilitated her visits. The BJP’s ties to individuals involved in espionage and anti-India activities are not isolated incidents," Shrinate claimed.
She demanded details on the action taken against Malhotra and what information she had revealed to investigators. The Congress’ scathing criticism came just a day after Jaishankar had met with Chinese officials during the SCO summit, where he emphasised the need to build on the “good progress” in normalising ties and resolving border tensions.
Also Read: Jaishankar meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing
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