China and India to have "intensified contact" in order to "narrow down differences"

India said on Thursday that the two sides had a "frank, constructive and forward-looking" exchange of views in Beijing on the situation along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh to "narrow down the differences" and "find early resolution of the outstanding issues," signaling some progress in diplomatic negotiations to end the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops that started in May 2020.

The Ministry of External Affairs claims that "intensified contact through diplomatic and military channels" was another agreement reached by the two parties.

In the bilateral talks on the border impasse, the phrase "narrow down the differences" has been used for the first time; in diplomatic terminology, it denotes progress in the negotiations.

It becomes noteworthy in light of the announcement made by the Kremlin two days ago that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "confirmed his readiness" to attend the October BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. It will present a chance for a side meeting between the Prime Minister and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the summit.

"The 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on August 29, 2024 in Beijing," the MEA stated in a statement. The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) at the Ministry of External Affairs. Hong Liang, Director General of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Boundary & Ocean Affairs Department, led the Chinese delegation.

Building on the WMCC meeting last month, it stated that "the two sides had a frank, constructive, and forward-looking exchange of views on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to narrow down the differences and find early resolution of the outstanding issues," in accordance with the guidance provided by two Foreign Ministers' meetings in Astana and Vientiane in July 2024 to accelerate their discussion.

"They also decided to intensify contact through military and diplomatic channels for this," the statement read.

Both sides agreed to "maintain the momentum" through established diplomatic and military channels, according to the MEA's statement following the July WMCC meeting. This time, there has been a focus on "intensified contact," which implies that the conversations are moving quickly.

They agreed to cooperatively maintain peace and tranquility on the ground in border areas in the interim, in accordance with the bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings achieved between the two Governments, according to the MEA statement. The necessity of restoring calm and peace as well as respect for the Leader-Auditor Covenant (LAC) was emphasized as the cornerstone for the return of bilateral ties to normalcy.

Following the July meeting, the MEA stated that normalcy in bilateral ties will only be restored upon the restoration of peace and quiet and respect for the LAC. This time, the message took on a more firm tone by stating that respect for LAC is "the essential basis."

According to the MEA, the head of the Indian delegation also paid a visit to the vice minister of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The WMCC convened its July meeting in New Delhi.

Conversations at the level of Corps Commanders typically occur in between two WMCC meetings. However, it did not occur this time, suggesting that the diplomatic route is currently being followed instead of the military negotiations.

Legacy friction spots like Demchok and Depsang Plains are the primary ones that persist along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. The latest official withdrawal from the LAC occurred in September 2022 when both sides withdrew their forces from Patrolling Point-15 in the eastern Ladakh region of Gogra-Hot Springs.

Since the start of the standoff, buffer zones along the LAC have helped to somewhat resolve friction points like the Galwan Valley, the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, and the Gogra-Hot Springs area.