India-China talks working proactively on the issues of Line of Actual Control (LAC) are expected to get a fillip with Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) leading the special representatives level talks in Beijing with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The talks are scheduled to take place today.
Talks To Focus On LAC Issues
Sources confirmed that as “the talks will cover the whole gamut of LAC issues, the matter of Buffer Zone and patrolling in these areas will be part of the discussion between the two top emissaries.”
Consequent to the diplomatic and military talks between India and China on the standoff in Eastern Ladakh, there had been disengagement from the points of conflict arisen in May 2020. But, no reduction in troop levels from both sides has been witnessed though they have shifted to designated places behind the Line of Actual Control.
In an important move, the standoffs at Depsang and Demchok, two key friction points between both armies in Eastern Ladakh, was resolved in October 2024.
It was after the 22nd round of Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL) talks, which is also known as the Corps Commander level talks, the troops from both sides disengaged to their designated points as per the agreement reached by them.
23 Rounds of Corps Commander Level Talks Held Already
There has been a total of 23 rounds of Corps Commander meetings as part of the Military level engagements towards the boundary issues. From the Indian side, it is led by the Commander-in-Chief of Ladakh based Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army, who is a Lieutenant general rank officer.
With the disengagement in eastern Ladakh, while patrolling at Depsang and Demchok started in November 2024, the status quo persists regarding the patrolling limits and buffer zones remained in the other five standoff areas where disengagement had already taken place. These were the five friction points cropping up in May 2020 post the standoffs.
The talks have been continuing regarding buffer zones and patrolling limits in the areas where disengagement has already occurred. India has been making it clear that status-quo needs to be resorted to with the troop positions at the pre-May 2020 places.
Disengagement Progress
Disengagement in Galwan, Gogra, Hot Springs, and the north and south banks of Pangong Tso took place earlier. The process of de-induction after disengagement will depend on building trust, followed by de-escalation.
While the Tuesday’s apex SR-level talks under the arrangement towards discussion on the boundary matters will be the 25th round, there has been 36 rounds of meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India‑China Border Affairs (WMCC) with the latest one being held on August 6 in New Delhi.
The Indian delegation was led by Sujit Ghosh, Joint Secretary (East Asia), Ministry of External Affairs and the Chinese delegation was led by Hou Yanqi, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “The two sides engaged in frank discussions and reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Further, it was underlined that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations.”
Both sides agreed to continue to use existing diplomatic and military channels, including the WMCC, local commander‑level meetings and other agreed mechanisms, to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the LAC, MEA Added.
As a follow up to the outcomes of 24th SR Talks, two sides held detailed exchanges on issues related to boundary delimitation, border management, mechanism‑building and trans‑border cooperation.
WMCC is a formal diplomatic platform established in 2012 and is aimed for timely communication of information on the border situation, for appropriately handling border incidents, for earnestly undertaking other cooperation activities in the India-China border areas.
It deals with important border affairs related to maintaining peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas.
The Working Mechanism is headed by a Joint Secretary level official from the Ministry of External Affairs and a Director General level official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China.