China and India renew calls to cool tense border stand-off

Chinese and Indian foreign ministry officials are meeting regularly in the aftermath of a Moscow agreement to calm tensions

But both countries completed major military tests and appear to be preparing for a long winter stand-off

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An Indian army convoy moves along a highway in Indian-controlled Kashmir in September. China said India’s designation of the region as a union territory is illegal. Photo: AP

Published: 1:57pm, 1 Oct 2020Updated: 10:58pm, 1 Oct 2020

China and India agreed on Wednesday not to further escalate tensions after a series of violent Himalayan border clashes led to a heavy military build-up in the region.

According to China’s foreign ministry, officials from both sides used a regular meeting about the disputed border region to exchange views and repeat pledges to cool tensions that first began in May.

However, the meeting was overshadowed by military exercises from both countries.

The Indian government tested a BrahMos missile system on the same day foreign ministry officials met their Chinese counterparts. Photo: AFP

One the day of the meeting, India test-fired surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles with a range of 400km (248 miles), according to a statement from the defence ministry. India has already deployed BrahMos missiles along the border with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

On Sunday, China announced successful tests of high-altitude autonomous helicopter drones in the mountainous Sichuan region.

During the latest meeting, the two sides promised not to take action that would escalate border tensions and avoid misunderstandings, according to statements from both countries’ foreign ministries.