India-China Conduct 29th Diplomatic Dialogue, Focus On Disengagement In Border Regions

Amidst ongoing border tensions, India and China engaged in discussions regarding achieving complete disengagement and addressing issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official press release on Thursday.

The 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) took place on Wednesday in Beijing, where both nations exchanged views. The meeting was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary from the MEA, leading the Indian delegation, and the Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leading the Chinese delegation.

In the official release, it was highlighted that the discussions delved into strategies for achieving complete disengagement and resolving the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas.

Following the meeting, both parties concurred to keep diplomatic and military channels open to uphold peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas. Additionally, they agreed to maintain regular contact through diplomatic and military channels while emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols.

The previous meeting of the WMCC, the 28th in sequence, occurred in November of the preceding year. During this session, both sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas. They engaged in constructive discussions aimed at resolving remaining issues and achieving complete disengagement in Eastern Ladakh. Furthermore, they reaffirmed the necessity of preserving peace and tranquility along the border areas, ensuring stability on the ground, and preventing any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, India reiterated its rejection of China’s claims regarding Arunachal Pradesh, labeling them as “absurd” and “baseless.” India firmly asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inseparable part of its territory. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the people of Arunachal Pradesh will continue to benefit from India’s developmental initiatives and infrastructure projects.

The Chinese Defense Ministry had reiterated its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “Zangnan,” an alleged part of China’s territory. This statement was made by the spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, on March 15. The remarks from the Chinese military followed shortly after India issued a strong rebuttal to China’s comments regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

The back-and-forth between India and China regarding Arunachal Pradesh underscores the persisting territorial disputes between the two nations. Despite diplomatic efforts to resolve border issues and maintain peace, tensions remain elevated, necessitating ongoing dialogue and engagement between the two countries.