July 31st 2024.
On a Wednesday in New Delhi, India and China came together to engage in a diplomatic discussion regarding the ongoing border standoff in eastern Ladakh. Despite the hope for a breakthrough, there was no clear indication of one. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized the importance of restoring peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in order to improve the overall bilateral relations between the two nations.
The talks, which took place in Delhi under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs, followed a recent bilateral meeting between the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the capital of Lao PDR, Vientiane. Both sides described the discussion as constructive and forward-looking, and agreed on the need to uphold peace and tranquility on the ground in accordance with bilateral agreements and protocols. However, there was no immediate breakthrough in the talks.
The Chinese delegation, led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also met with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. This was the first round of WMCC talks since March, when the previous meeting was held in Beijing. The Ministry stated that the two sides reviewed the current situation along the LAC, with the goal of finding a prompt resolution to the outstanding issues.
Both sides reiterated the importance of restoring peace and tranquility along the LAC as a necessary foundation for normalizing bilateral relations. They also agreed to continue communication through diplomatic and military channels in order to maintain the momentum of the talks. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary in the MEA, Gourangalal Das.
Earlier in July, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang held talks in Vientiane on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings. During this meeting, they stressed the need to work urgently towards a complete disengagement at the remaining friction points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. The two ministers also met in Astana on July 4 during the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, where Jaishankar reiterated India's stance on maintaining a relationship based on mutual respect, interest, and sensitivity.
The standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries began in May 2020, and although they have disengaged from some friction points, a full resolution has not been reached. The clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 further strained the relationship between the two nations. India has made it clear that normalizing ties with China is not possible unless there is peace along the border. So far, 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks have been held, with India urging the People's Liberation Army to disengage from the Depsang and Demchok areas. The last high-level military talks were held in February.
In conclusion, the recent diplomatic talks between India and China were described as constructive and forward-looking, with both sides emphasizing the need to uphold peace and tranquility along the LAC. While there was no immediate breakthrough, the two nations have agreed to maintain communication and work towards resolving the ongoing border standoff.
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