India and China hold negotiations over border coordination

Indian and Chinese soldiers exchange greetings at Hot Springs in Leh on the occasion of Deepavali on October 31, 2024. Photo: X/@adgpi via ANI

In preparation for the meeting of the Special Representatives between India and China on boundary resolution, India and China on Thursday (December 5, 2024) held the 32nd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC). This is the latest in a series of bilateral engagements since the recent bonhomie in the bilateral relationship following disengagement in the last two friction points — Depsang and Demchok.

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“The two sides positively affirmed the implementation of the most recent disengagement agreement which completed the resolution of the issues that emerged in 2020. They also prepared for the next meeting of the Special Representatives, which is to be held in accordance with the decision of the two leaders in their meeting in Kazan on October 23,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), and the Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 31st round of WMCC meeting was held on August 29 in Beijing.

Both sides reviewed the situation in border areas, and “reflected on the lessons learnt” from the events of 2020 in order to prevent their recurrence, the statement said, and in this context, they highlighted the importance of regular exchanges and contacts at diplomatic and military level through established mechanisms. They agreed on the need for effective border management and maintenance of peace and tranquillity in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings reached between the two governments, the MEA added.

On November 4, the Indian Army announced that it has patrolled to one of the five Patrolling Points (PP) in the Depsang area of eastern Ladakh, the first time since the disengagement undertaken a week prior last week and also since the stand-off began in May 2020.

The Indian Army last accessed the PPs in Depsang in January 2020, as reported by The Hindu earlier. As part of the latest agreement on disengagement from Depsang and Demchok, which completes the process from all friction points of the standoff, both sides also agreed on resumption of patrolling and access to grazing areas in the two areas. “The patrolling is coordinated between both sides to avoid clashes, and the frequency would be to a maximum of one Patrolling Point (PP) a week by each side in both locations. All patrolling points have since been accessed,” officials said.

Talks are continuing between the two sides for resumption of patrolling in other five friction points where buffer zones are in place following disengagement.

Since the agreement, in addition to the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of BRICS summit, there have been other high-level exchanges between the two countries.