China-India border row: preparation for new round of military talks
- Beijing says it is committed to de-escalating the worst border tensions in decades
- Indian defence minister says there has been no meaningful result from the meetings so far
Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence, said on Thursday that China remained committed to de-escalating the worst border tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in decades.
“The Chinese side is willing to maintain communication with the Indian side through military and diplomatic channels, and we hope India can meet China halfway ... and take concrete measures to ease the tension,” Tan said.
“The two sides are coordinating on the ninth round of commander-level meetings.”
The talks have reportedly been delayed by the appointment of a new commander for the People’s Liberation Army’s Western Theatre Command, which oversees the Himalayan region.
Indian newspaper the Hindustan Times reported the talks would resume after General Zhang Xudong, 58, who replaced General Zhao Zongqi, 65, completed his induction for his new role, a process that would include operational briefings and visits to key deployments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the disputed China-India border, in eastern Ladakh.