India and China conducted the 30th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in New Delhi.

30th round of border talk held between India and China

• The two countries have been holding Corps Commander levels and the WMCC talks at the military and diplomatic levels as part of efforts to resolve the stand-off along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. 
  • The 21st round of Corps Commander talks were held in February
• Focus Area: The talks focussed on finding an early resolution of the stand off  along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and remaining issues to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations
• Joint Statement: Both the countries agreed on the need to jointly uphold peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings reached between the two governments
• Indian Position: India maintained that restoration of peace and tranquility, and respect for the LAC are “essential basis” for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations.

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Border Dispute Settlement Mechanisms between India and China

• Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control: The agreement provides a framework for border security between the parties until final determination is made regarding border demarcation.
  • The parties agree to reduce troop levels compatible with friendly and good relations between them. 
  • Confidence Building Measures: The Parties agreed  to undertake confidence building measures along the LAC  including by providing notification of troop movements.
• The Agreement on Military Confidence Building Measures 1996: The agreement opened with a mention of the five principles of peaceful coexistence
  • Share Military deployment details: It aims to limit the military deployment and sharing of details on how to deal with military exercises, air intrusions, overflights and landings by military aircraft near the LAC. 
  • It aims to prevent “dangerous military activities” near LAC, covers CBMs such as “flag meetings and telecommunications” and deals with the accidental crossing of the LAC. 
  • Perception of LAC: Article 10 of the agreement mentioned the exchange of maps between the two countries to address the differing perception of LAC.
• The Border Defence Co-operation Agreement 2013: The Agreement covers border stability and security, information asymmetry, smuggling, socio-economic reconstruction, environment and disease transmission along the line of actual control.

India-China Border Dispute

• Border Dispute: India’s border dispute with China is the most complex and longstanding one, involving an ill-defined, 3,440 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) that runs along the Himalayan region. 
• The dispute stems from the legacy of British colonialism and the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
• Standoffs: The two countries have had several clashes and stand-offs along the LAC, most notably in 1967, 1987, 2013, 2017 and 2020-2021.
  • Doklam: Chinese Incursion in the Doklam area in 2017 again ignited the border standoff between the countries which is still continuing
  • The latest conflict in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 was the first fatal confrontation between the two sides since 1975, killing at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
  • Till date more than 50,000 troops on each side are stationed on both sides of the border.
• Key Disputed Areas: The Indian Military has divided the Line of Actual Control into 3 sectors,
  • The Western Sector: It spans across Ladakh and the Chinese-held Aksai Chin and is a 1,597 km-long LAC. The patrolling is done till 65 earmarked Patrol Points (PPs) stretching from Karakoram to Chumur.
    • The recent dispute points occurred at PP9, 10, 11, 12, 12A and 13 in Depsang, PP14 in Galwan, PP15 and PP16 in Hot Springs/ Chang Chenmo, and PP17 and 17A in Gogra
  • The Central Sector: It Spans across  Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and is the least contentious area between the 2 countries but consist of  certain flashpoints like Tashigang-Shipki La in Himachal, Sang-Nelang-Pulam Sumda and Barahoti in Uttarakhand.
  • The Eastern Sector: It comprise sites such as Namkha Chu, Sumdorong Chu, Fish Tail 1 and Dibang valley in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Although China claims the entire Aunanchal Pradesh Territory as its integral part. 
• The two countries have also been competing to build infrastructure and assert their claims along the border, which has increased the risk of escalation.

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