Delay over holding fresh India-China high-level military talks to resolve border row

Following the 21st round of India-China Corps Commander-level talks on February 19, no subsequent high-level military meetings to resolve the border dispute have occurred, marking a seven-month hiatus.

In Short

• Last India-China high-level military talks held on February 19
• Talks seemed to have stalled due to disengagement, patrolling rights concerns
• India, China were involved in bitter standoff in Ladakh in 2020

The delay in holding the 22nd round of India-China Corps Commander-level talks to resolve the border tensions has raised concerns, as this is now the longest gap since the talks began in June 2020.

Following the 21st round on February 19, no subsequent high-level military meetings have occurred, marking a seven-month hiatus in dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Relations between India and China are at an all-time low after the militaries of both countries were engaged in a bloody standoff at Galwan Valley in Ladakh in May 2020. The disengagement process began in February 2021 and talks have been held since then to resolve the border dispute.

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The commander-level talks, which were initiated to resolve the ongoing standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, have historically played a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability.

Despite the statement following the 21st round affirming both sides’ commitment to upholding peace, no clear resolution to the dispute was achieved. However, the ground-level routine exchange of communication between officers has been made but commander-level talks have not happened after February 2024.

While discussions have continued through Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) meetings, the lack of high-level military dialogue has led to growing speculation regarding the reasons behind the delay.

Defence experts, including Maj General Ashok Kumar (retd), suggest that while there may have been initial progress in resolving issues, particularly regarding patrolling rights and disengagement, talks seem to have stalled, especially concerning critical areas like Depsang Plains and Demchok.

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Maj General Ashok noted that despite early breakthroughs, such as mutual disengagement at some friction points, further progress has been elusive, with military commanders awaiting higher political intervention.

“The gap in talks may indicate that both nations are awaiting a resolution that can be implemented on the ground, but the lack of clarity regarding future talks is concerning,” he added.

Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar voiced similar sentiments, acknowledging the progress made but emphasising that issues related to patrolling rights and complete de-escalation remain unresolved. His remarks align with India’s stance that while disengagement has been partially achieved, the process of de-escalation and addressing deeper strategic concerns continues to be a challenge.

As both countries continue to maintain a military presence along the LAC, the implications of this delay could be significant for regional stability. Here is a timeline of the commander-level talks held so far:

• 1st Round: June 6, 2020
• 2nd Round: June 22, 2020
• 3rd Round: June 30, 2020
• 4th Round: July 2020
• 5th Round: August 2020
• 6th Round: September 2020
• 7th Round: October 2020
• 8th Round: November 2020
• 9th Round: January 2021
• 10th Round: February 2021
• 11th Round: April 2021
• 12th Round: July 2021
• 13th Round: October 2021
• 14th Round: January 2022
• 15th Round: March 2022
• 16th Round: July 2022
• 17th Round: December 20, 2022
• 18th Round: April 2023
• 19th Round: August 2023
• 20th Round: October 2023
• 21st Round: February 2024