China's Long-awaited Ambassador to India Raises Speculation Amid Ongoing Border Disputes

China is poised to appoint a new ambassador to India after over 15 months of vacancy, in the midst of ongoing border disputes between the two nations. Xu Feihong, a senior diplomat who has previously served as ambassador to Afghanistan and Romania, is reportedly Beijing's pick for the position. However, the formalities for his appointment are still pending, leaving the timeline for his arrival uncertain. The delay in appointing a new ambassador comes amid heightened tensions between India and China, sparked by the 2020 Galwan clash and the subsequent military standoff in eastern Ladakh.

While there has been no violent confrontation in recent months, the border situation remains abnormal, with heavy deployments from both sides. India has maintained that the normalization of ties with China is contingent on the resolution of the standoff in eastern Ladakh. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar emphasized the importance of perseverance and endurance in dealing with China, stating that beyond the boundary issue, it's about how India is perceived as a strategic entity. India's position in diplomatic talks with China has been that progress can only be made by maintaining peace and tranquility at the border.

Despite China's assertion that the border issue should not be linked to bilateral relations, India insists that the standoff must be resolved before ties can be normalized. The two countries have engaged in numerous rounds of military and diplomatic talks to address the standoff, with a focus on resolving the remaining issues and maintaining peace on the ground in the interim. The prolonged delay in appointing a new Chinese ambassador to India, particularly one of Xu Feihong's senior rank, has raised speculation about possible signals of displeasure from Beijing towards New Delhi. Nonetheless, India awaits the arrival of the new ambassador, though it's unlikely to have an immediate impact on the current state of relations, especially as the country heads into elections.