China and India trade accusations at special UN Security Council meetings after recent border clash

New Delhi’s top diplomat and Chinese envoy in New York voice sharply contrasting views on permanent seat candidacy and urgent terrorism concerns

Separately and on sidelines of UN meetings, India and Pakistan accuse each other of fomenting terrorism

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Demonstrators in Mumbai, India, hold signs during a protest against China on Tuesday. A scuffle last week on the two countries’ Himalayan border left soldiers on both sides injured. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:55am, 16 Dec 2022Updated: 7:57am, 16 Dec 2022

Just days after their troops attacked one another with sticks and bricks at a disputed Himalayan border, China and India emerged far apart on Thursday after two days of discussions on reformed multilateralism and counterterrorism at the United Nations Security Council in New York.

When Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during a special meeting on multilateralism on Wednesday called for an “honest conversation” to manifest “the global order that best reflects contemporary realities”, Britain, France and the United Arab Emirates pledged to support New Delhi’s bid for a permanent seat on the council.

But Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the UN, instead urged for “special arrangements to accommodate Africa’s concerns and enhance its representation” and avoided any mention of India’s candidacy.

China is the only country among the council’s five permanent members to have never supported India’s attempts to secure a coveted seat on the panel.

India now serves as UN Security Council president for the month of December.

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