India-China battle: After four years of multiple diplomatic and military talks since the India-China skirmishes began in 2020, ending the standoff, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Monday that “the process of disengagement from China has been completed”.
Jaishankar said: “…We can say that the disengagement process with China is complete… We will be able to conduct the patrols we did in 2020. I think this is a good development…”
Foreign Minister Vikram Misri on Monday said military negotiators from New Delhi and Beijing have reached an agreement on patrol arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
“Indian and Chinese negotiators have been in contact over the past few weeks.”
The agreement is likely to involve patrolling in Depsang and Demchok areas.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said: “After discussions over the past few weeks, we are making progress in reaching an agreement on patrol arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas. Disengagement and final resolution of these areas in 2020 problems arise.
The agreement was announced ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia for the BRICS summit, where he is likely to hold discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to news agency reports PTIModi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
Relations between the two nuclear-capable countries have been tense since 2020, with violent clashes on their ill-defined border leading to the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
Meanwhile, Beijing is yet to respond to Jaishankar’s statement.
China-India border dispute: chronic tensions
The ongoing conflict between India and China stems from an unclear border that stretches about 3,440 kilometers (2,100 miles). The disputed border, known as the Line of Actual Control, has become the focus of a race between the two countries to bolster infrastructure in the region.
India’s efforts to build a new road to high-altitude air bases were seen as a major provocation, leading to deadly clashes between the armies in 2020.
The confrontation in the Galwan Valley marks a grim milestone, the first deadly conflict since 1975 in which combatants use sticks and clubs instead of guns. The conflict resulted in the death of at least 20 Indian soldiers and 4 Chinese soldiers.
Efforts have been made to de-escalate the situation since intense fighting began in June 2020, but tensions remain high. In December 2022, the army clashed again near the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, resulting in some soldiers being slightly injured.
Historically, Delhi and Beijing fought a war in 1962 that ended in a crushing defeat for India, adding to the complexity of their relationship and ongoing dispute over territorial claims.