New Delhi – In a significant diplomatic engagement, India and China have agreed to maintain peace and stability along the contentious Line of Actual Control (LAC) and to continue utilising existing diplomatic and military channels to manage their border issues. This consensus was the key outcome of the 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), held in Beijing.
While the agreement to keep the peace is a welcome development, sources in New Delhi are viewing it with cautious optimism. The consensus represents a commitment to manage ongoing tensions rather than a major breakthrough in resolving the underlying disputes that have plagued the relationship since the violent Galwan Valley clashes of May 2020.
A Step Towards De-escalation
The meeting, which was the first in-person WMCC gathering since July 2019, marks a continuation of the dialogue aimed at de-escalating the massive military buildup in the high-altitude Ladakh sector. Both sides conducted a candid and in-depth review of the situation along the LAC, agreeing on the need to “sincerely implement the common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries.”
In diplomatic terms, the agreement to maintain stability along the LAC is a crucial, albeit incremental, step. It signals a mutual desire to prevent a recurrence of physical confrontations like the one in Galwan, which led to the first combat fatalities on the border in 45 years. The decision to continue existing border mechanisms reaffirms the importance of communication channels like the WMCC, military hotlines, and local commander-level flag meetings to address any flare-ups in real-time.
Core Standoff Points Remain Unresolved
Despite the positive step, the core of the standoff remains unresolved. India has consistently maintained that the restoration of the status quo ante as of April 2020 is non-negotiable for the normalisation of bilateral ties. This involves two key phases:
1. Complete disengagement of troops from all remaining friction points, particularly the strategic Depsang Plains and the Demchok area.
2. A comprehensive de-escalation of the tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weaponry stationed on either side of the LAC.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has repeatedly stated that peace and tranquility on the border are the foundation for the overall relationship. The Chinese side, in contrast, has often attempted to de-hyphenate the border issue, suggesting both countries should set it aside and focus on other areas of cooperation. India has firmly rejected this proposition.
The Path Forward
Today’s agreement is essentially a pact to manage the symptoms while the search for a permanent solution continues. It reflects a pragmatic recognition from both nuclear-armed neighbours that with their forces deployed in close proximity, a robust mechanism to prevent accidental escalation is essential.
The path forward now hinges on the next round of Senior Commanders’ meetings. While the diplomatic talks at the WMCC lay the political groundwork, the tangible process of disengagement is negotiated by military leaders on the ground. The key question that remains is whether the intent to “maintain stability” will translate into concrete actions to pull back troops.
For now, the agreement provides a fragile stability on the world’s most precarious high-altitude border. It is a step back from the brink, but the long road to restoring trust is still fraught with challenges. The dialogue continues, and so does the vigil.
