India, China hold ‘frank and in-depth’ talks

Introduction:

• India and China held the 18th round of talks on Sunday to resolve the two remaining friction areas on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The talks came ahead of the Chinese Defence Minister’s visit to New Delhi and were aimed at restoring peace along the border areas, which would enable progress in recently strained relations. The talks were described as “frank and in-depth” and were held on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point.

Key Points:

• The talks were held to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, which would enable progress in bilateral relations.
• The talks did not result in any breakthrough yet on the two remaining friction points in Demchok and Depsang.
• Both sides disengaged in four other areas along the LAC, setting up buffer zones in some of them.
• The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) met in February, where both sides discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining areas in an open and constructive manner.
• Disengagement and de-escalation along the LAC are critical to restoring ties, according to India.
• Relations have been in a state of freeze since 2020, barring the record bilateral trade figures reported in 2021 and 2022.
• China’s new Defence Minister, General Li Shangfu, will make his first visit to India for the SCO Defence Ministers’ meet, which is the first high-level military visit since the LAC crisis began.
• India has all but curtailed the inflow of once-surging Chinese investment.
• Chinese officials claim that border management has moved towards “normalised” control, but India disagrees.
• The China-India border issue is now gradually shifting from a conflict and a stand-off to a normalised management phase.
• The border issue remains complex and requires both sides to further implement mechanisms at all levels and through different channels.

Conclusion:

• The talks between India and China on the two remaining friction areas on the LAC were described as “frank and in-depth,” but no breakthrough has been reached yet. The talks were held to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, which would enable progress in bilateral relations. Disengagement and de-escalation along the LAC are critical to restoring ties, according to India. The visit of China’s new Defence Minister to India is the first high-level military visit since the LAC crisis began. Despite recent claims by Chinese officials that border management has moved towards “normalised” control, the border issue remains complex and requires both sides to further implement mechanisms at all levels and through different channels.