At the 20th round of border talks held between India and China on 9-10 October, the two sides agreed to resolve the remaining issues along the Western Sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) “at the earliest possible date.”
While no breakthrough was achieved in resolving the three-year-old border stand-off during the talks, the two sides agreed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas.
Overview
The 20th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side.
According to a release by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Delhi and Beijing agreed to “maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations” through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms.
On October 9 and 10, the 20th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Moldo-Chushul border meeting point on the Indian side.https://t.co/zCEFycl6Oz pic.twitter.com/3ywXklpbdR
— Embassy of The People's Republic of China in India (@China_Amb_India) October 12, 2023
In the meeting, the two sides exchanged views in a “frank, open and constructive manner,” the MEA stated.
Discussions were held to reach an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector.
Both countries agreed to follow the guidance provided by their respective national leaderships and build on the progress made in the last round of the Corps Commanders’ Meeting held on 13-14 August 2023.
A statement by the Chinese Defence Ministry said, “The two sides had a positive, in-depth and constructive discussion on resolving the remaining issues.”
The Border Talks
At least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers died in the Galwan-Valley conflict between the two countries in June 2020.
Following the conflict, New Delhi and Beijing have held several talks to resolve the issue.
The last round of talks was held just before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and the G20 Summit hosted by New Delhi.
So far, the two sides have managed to disengage at Galwan, Gogra, Kugrang Valley, the north bank of Pangong Lake, and the Kailash range.
However, progress on the critical points of Depsang and Demchok has been difficult.
While the Chinese side claims that the two regions are part of the legacy boundary dispute, India has held that the stand-off will end only if both armies disengage at these two points.
#India and #China held the 20th round of corps commander-level talks at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side over the last two days which failed to make any headway to end the stand-off along the LAC in eastern #Ladakh.https://t.co/qChuikMQgN
— The Hindu (@the_hindu) October 12, 2023
India-China Ties
The Galwan conflict led to the straining of ties, which are now at an all-time low, between the two Asian neighbours. Since then, there has been a diplomatic deadlock between the two nations, with occasional flare-ups.
In August, Indian PM Narendra Modi directly raised the LAC issue with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping.
Modi said, “Observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China relationship.” However, the absence of Xi from the G20 Summit hosted by India suggested the lack of progress in the ties.
Additionally, China’s release of a “New Standard Map” showing disputed territories as its own, and its denial of visas to three Indian Wushu competitors from Arunachal Pradesh have flared tensions further.