(TibetanReview.net, Aug30’24)– Indian and Chinese diplomats have met in Beijing on Aug 29 to further discuss the restoration of normality along their tense Chinese occupied Tibet border. The two sides have issued separate press notes, each employing positive descriptions of the atmospherics of the discussions, but indicating that major differences continue to remain. China not only remains unbending on restoring the pre-2020 Ladakh border status quo but also on India’s insistence that resuming normal bilateral ties depends on resolving this issue.
Also, India said the discussion were held to narrow the differences between the two sides while China claimed they further narrowed their differences.
The 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held in line with the guidance provided by two sides’ Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Astana and Vientiane in Jul 2024 to accelerate their discussion, and building on the WMCC meeting held last month, said India’s Ministry of External Affairs in a press release Aug 29.
The release said the two sides had “a frank, constructive and forward-looking exchange of views” on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with a view to narrow down the differences and find early resolution of the outstanding issues. For this, they further agreed for intensified contact through diplomatic and military channels.
The release said that the two sides decided to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity on the ground in border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings reached between the two Governments.
“It was reiterated that restoration of peace and tranquillity, and respect for LAC are the essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations,” the release said, a reiteration on which China has repeatedly expressed a different view.
This meeting occurred just 29 days after the last round in Delhi, a much shorter interval compared to the previous gaps of four to six months between WMCC meetings, noted m.thewire.in Aug 30.
Mr Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation. The Chinese delegation was led by Mr Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary & Ocean Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Chinese media readout also referenced “narrowing” of differences.
However, the Chinese foreign ministry statement only said, in Chinese: “The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on issues related to the border area, further narrowed the differences, expanded the consensus, agreed to strengthen dialogue and consultation, take care of each other’s reasonable concerns and reach a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible,” the report noted.
Both sides have also said they would abide by border-related agreements and confidence measures and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity at the LAC.
The report felt that the frequency of the meetings was notable because Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were both expected to attend the BRICS summit in Russia this October.
The first meeting of the WMCC was held on Mar 5, 2012. This mechanism was established to address and manage border-related issues between India and China, facilitating communication and coordination to maintain peace and stability along their border areas. Hence, it does not discuss the resolution of the boundary question as such.