Modi and Japanese PM discuss China and Ukraine conflict

Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla said Japanese Prime Minister also briefed PM Modi on Japan's own perspective, vis-à-vis the Eastern South China sea.

New Delhi: The issue of China came up at the Summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Saturday (March 19).

Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla told reporters that both countries did inform each other of their perspectives.

 "We informed the Japanese side about the situation in Ladakh – the massing of troops and attempts at multiple transgressions. And also the fact that we were holding talks with China on the border-related issues and the recent issues in Ladakh," said Harsh V Shringla.

He said India also made it clear that until and unless we have a resolution of the issues involved with peace and tranquillity in the border areas, "we could not consider the relationship to be business as usual and normalcy in relationship would depend on progress on the issues that we are discussing."

Mr Shringla said the Japanese Prime Minister also briefed PM Modi on Japan's own perspective, vis-à-vis the Eastern South China sea.

Both the leaders expressed serious concern about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and assessed its broader implications, particularly to the Indo-Pacific region. 

In a joint statement last night, the two leaders emphasized that the current global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. 

They underscored the importance of the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine and acknowledged the active efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) towards it. 

They reiterated their call for an immediate cessation of violence and noted that there was no other choice but the path of dialogue and diplomacy for resolving the conflict.