The 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held in Beijing. The Indian delegation at the meeting was led by Gauranglal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) of the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Department of Border and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
During the meeting, both sides described the restoration of peace and stability on the LAC as a basic requirement for the restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations. The meeting emphasized that in order to reduce tensions on the border and find solutions to pending issues, such a dialogue is extremely important which is frank, constructive and which also looks at the necessary possibilities of the future.
How far had the matter reached in the previous meetings
Based on the directions given in the meetings of the foreign ministers of the two countries in Astana and Vientiane in July, the meeting emphasized on intensifying the discussion. Both sides reviewed the decisions of the WMCC meeting held last month and exchanged frank and constructive views on the situation on the LAC to reduce differences.
It was also agreed in the meeting that contact through diplomatic and military channels should be further enhanced. Both the countries decided to make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in the border areas. For this, emphasis was laid on following the relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and agreements made between the two governments.
Galwan Valley clash and its aftermath
The Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a standoff at the LAC since May 2020, including a violent clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020. The clash was considered the most serious military conflict between the two countries in decades. Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply since the conflict, and the border dispute has not been fully resolved yet. However, both sides have withdrawn their troops from several conflict points.
What did the Chinese Foreign Ministry say?
After the meeting, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also issued a statement, which was in Chinese language. The statement said that the meeting took place in a positive, friendly and frank atmosphere. Both sides exchanged in-depth views to reduce differences and expand consensus regarding the situation on the LAC. They agreed to strengthen dialogue and consultation, take care of each other’s legitimate concerns and reach an acceptable solution to both sides as soon as possible.
Both countries agree on this point
The two countries agreed to consolidate the outcomes of consultations, strictly observe border-related agreements and confidence-building measures, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the border areas. In addition, they also agreed to jointly promote an early resolution of the border situation in accordance with the important consensus reached by the foreign ministers of the two countries recently.
foreign ministers talks
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Vientiane on 25 July during ASEAN-related meetings. In this conversation, both the ministers agreed on the need to work promptly for the complete withdrawal of troops from the remaining disputed places on the LAC in eastern Ladakh. Earlier, Jaishankar and Wang Yi also had a bilateral meeting in Astana on 4 July during the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
A Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Dispute (WMCC) has been formed between India and China, which holds regular meetings to resolve the border dispute. Through this 31st meeting held in Beijing, both the countries have taken another important step towards reducing differences and finding a solution to the border dispute. It remains to be seen how much the situation on the border improves as a result of these meetings and how much progress is made in the relations between the two countries.
Which parts of India have disputes with China?
1. Pangong Tso Lake (Ladakh): This lake is 134 km long and is located at an altitude of about 14 thousand feet in the Himalayas. 44 km area of this lake falls in India and about 90 km area falls in China. LAC also passes through this lake. Due to this, there is confusion here and there is a dispute between the two countries.
2. Galwan Valley (Ladakh): Galwan Valley is located between Ladakh and Aksai Chin. Here the LAC separates Aksai Chin from India. This valley extends to southern Xinjiang of China and Ladakh of India. In June 2020, there was a violent clash in the Galwan Valley.
3. Doklam (Bhutan): Although Doklam is a dispute between Bhutan and China, it lies near the Sikkim border. It is a kind of tri-junction, from where China, Bhutan and India are close. Both Bhutan and China claim this area. India supports Bhutan’s claim. In 2017, there was tension between India and China over Doklam for about two and a half months.
4. Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh): China has always had its eyes on Tawang, which is located in Arunachal Pradesh. Tawang is a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists. It is also called the largest Buddhist monastery in Asia. China has been calling Tawang a part of Tibet. In the agreement that was signed in 1914, Tawang was declared a part of Arunachal. China had captured Tawang in the 1962 war, but had to give up its occupation under the ceasefire.
5. Nathu La (Sikkim): Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas. It connects Sikkim in India and the Chumbi Valley of Southern Tibet. It is at an altitude of 14,200 feet. It is important for India because pilgrims pass through here for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. There is no dispute between India and China regarding Nathu La. But here too, sometimes there have been reports of clashes between the Indian and Chinese armies.
What has happened so far regarding peace on the border?
To maintain peace on the LAC, five important agreements have been signed between India and China in three decades. The first agreement was signed in 1993. After that, the second agreement was signed in 1996. Then agreements were signed in 2005, 2012 and 2013.
After the 1962 war, relations between India and China soured. In 1988, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China. This visit played an important role in improving relations. The agreements of 1993 and 1996 were the result of the improving relations between the two countries.
In 1993, the then Prime Minister of India, PV Narasimha Rao visited China. At that time, Li Peng was the Prime Minister of China. This agreement was reached during that visit. It was decided in this agreement that no country will use force or army against each other. It was also decided that if a soldier of any country crosses the LAC by mistake, then the other country will inform them and the soldier will immediately return to his side.
In this agreement, it was also said that if the tension increases, then both the countries will go to the LAC and assess the situation and find a solution through talks. Apart from this, there was also a provision of giving information before military exercises. This agreement was signed by the then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs RL Bhatia on behalf of India and Deputy Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on behalf of China.
When did the two countries clash on the border?
– 1962: China had launched an all-out attack on India on 20 October and Chinese soldiers had entered several kilometres from Ladakh to Arunachal. On 21 November 1962, China declared a unilateral ceasefire. But by then it had captured Aksai Chin. In Arunachal too, the Chinese army had entered up to Tawang, but it had returned from there.
– 1967: There was a clash between the armies of both the countries near Nathu-La pass in Sikkim. This is India’s highest mountain pass, which is located between Bhutan, China, Tibet and Nepal. In October 1967, the Chinese army attacked the Indian Army with machine guns. In this, 80 soldiers of the Indian Army were martyred. Whereas, 300 to 400 Chinese soldiers were killed.
– 1975: The Chinese army attacked the Assam Rifles patrolling team in Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh. The Chinese army carried out this attack by laying an ambush. Four Indian soldiers were martyred in this attack. India accused China of crossing the border, although China rejected it.
– 2017: In June 2017, when the Chinese army started building a road in Doklam in Bhutan, the Indian army stopped it. After the dispute over road construction in Doklam, the armies of India and China remained face to face for 73 days. However, there was no violence. After a confrontation-like situation for two months, China surrendered and agreed to withdraw its troops from Doklam.
– 2020: On 15 June 2020, a bloody conflict took place between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh. This was considered the most serious conflict in four decades. This conflict turned violent on the night of 15-16 June 2020. 20 Indian Army soldiers were martyred in this clash. However, China has officially admitted the death of only four of its soldiers so far.
– 2022: In December, there was a clash between the soldiers of both the countries in the Tawang sector near the LAC in Arunachal. The Chinese army had tried to infiltrate the Tawang sector, to which the Indian soldiers responded strongly. At least 6 soldiers of the Indian Army were injured in the clash.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)