Chinese and Indian commanders hold more talks on border tensions but do not appear to make progress
- Meetings are 12th in series that began in May 2020, when frictions first broke out at multiple locations in border region
- At least 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers were killed in a June 2020 skirmish, the first deadly border clash in 45 years
The frontline military commanders from both sides met at the border village of Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on July 30 – the 12th round of commander-level talks – and held nine hours of talks, one of the shortest negotiations in the series.
The meeting was a “candid and in-depth exchange of views” and “further enhanced mutual understanding”, according to a Chinese defence ministry statement on Monday.
“They agreed to resolve these remaining issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations,” the statement said.
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China reveals details of 2020 border clash with Indian troops after both sides complete pullback
It had been once hoped that in this round the two sides could make progress in the remaining deadlocks – disengagement from the biggest hotspots, including Gogra Heights and Hot Springs between China-controlled Aksai Chin and India-controlled East Ladakh.
But the statement did not announce the reaching of any substantial agreement.
The disputed 3,488km (2,167 mile) unmarked border between China and India has long been a source of tension. This series of commander-level talks began in May 2020, when frictions first broke out at multiple locations along the LAC. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed in a skirmish in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh in June 2020 – the first deadly clash along the border in 45 years.
The last round of talks, held in April, lasted for 13 hours but the stand-off remained.
This round was held after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on July 14 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
After previous talks the two sides disengaged from some hotspots on the west section of the LAC, including the banks of Pangong Tso lake.
Both sides were increasing the build-up of infrastructure in the area and sending extra troop deployments, according to media reports.
A hotline was reportedly established for the east section between the Indian Army in Kongra La, north Sikkim, and the People’s Liberation Army at Khamba Dzong in Tibet to further the spirit of trust and cordial relations along the border.
China and India have pledged to maintain stability along their border, and agree on the principle of disengagement. But both sides have continued to blame each other for last year’s fatal confrontation.
