Fresh round of diplomatic talks between India and China yields no concrete breakthrough
PTC News Desk: In Beijing, India and China convened the 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) on Wednesday, aiming to address the ongoing standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Despite these discussions, no immediate breakthrough was achieved, with both sides agreeing to maintain regular contact through diplomatic and military channels.
According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, senior diplomats from India and China engaged in extensive discussions regarding the achievement of complete disengagement and resolution of remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas.
The statement emphasised the importance of upholding peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols. However, specific details of the discussions were not provided. The Indian delegation, led by the Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs, participated in the meeting, while the Chinese delegation was headed by the Director-General of the Boundary & Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The tensions between India and China escalated significantly in June 2020 following violent clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley, resulting in casualties on both sides. This incident marked the most serious escalation in the border dispute between the two countries in decades.
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Since then, both countries have deployed additional troops and military equipment to the region, engaging in diplomatic and military-level talks to ease tensions and prevent further escalation. However, despite four rounds of disengagement in various sectors, including Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Gogra, and Hot Springs, tens of thousands of troops and advanced weaponry remain deployed in the Ladakh theatre.
The restoration of peace and tranquility along the LAC remains crucial for the normalization of India-China relations, which are currently at their lowest point in six decades. Issues at Depsang and Demchok continue to be discussed as part of ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
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(Inputs from agencies)
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