India and China have started implementing fresh confidence-building steps along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, with a strong focus on upgrading surveillance systems like cameras and drones to monitor the border constantly and cut down on physical patrols that could lead to clashes. This follows the October 2024 patrolling agreement and the August 2025 Special Representatives' dialogue, where both sides agreed to form an expert group for early boundary fixes, amid continued troop presence and harsh winter conditions that heighten risks.
What is the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Why is it Disputed?
The LAC is a 3,488-km unmarked line that acts as the border between India and China, set by a 1993 agreement to keep peace, but both sides have different ideas about where it exactly runs due to old maps and claims.
Disputes started in the 1950s, leading to the 1962 war, and small face-offs happened over time because patrols sometimes overlap in grey areas without clear markers.
The LAC covers sectors like western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal), and eastern (Arunachal Pradesh), with India seeing it as per its claims and China claiming areas like Aksai Chin and parts of Arunachal as its own.
What Led to the 2020 Standoff and How Has It Created a Trust Deficit?
In April-May 2020, Chinese troops moved into areas like Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, and Depsang, blocking Indian patrols and leading to a deadly clash in Galwan that killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese ones.
This broke a long period of no major violence since 1975, causing both sides to deploy thousands of troops, tanks, and artillery, turning the border into a tense zone and deeply damaging trust.
The standoff showed issues like unclear LAC lines and quick infrastructure builds by China, making India wary of sudden moves and pushing for better ways to check each other's actions without fights.
What Are the Recent Disengagement Agreements and Patrolling Changes?
In October 2024, both countries agreed to pull back from Depsang and Demchok, restoring access to pre-2020 points like India's Patrolling Points 10-13, which China had blocked.
Coordinated patrols mean both armies share plans and timings to avoid meeting, with regular ground-level talks to fix small issues fast.
Full de-escalation is not done yet, as 50,000-60,000 troops stay in nearby areas on each side, and buffer zones limit full access, but 2025 talks focus on pulling back more troops and weapons.
How is Surveillance Technology Helping Reduce Tensions at the LAC?
Since 2020, India has set up a strong network of cameras, drones, and sensors for non-stop monitoring, cutting the need for risky foot patrols in tough terrain and cold winters that can cause delays and clashes.
Tools like thermal cameras and geotagging mark exact patrol spots on digital maps, helping both sides agree on positions and avoid arguments over where the LAC is.
This tech eases soldier workload, reduces cold-related injuries, and builds trust by letting each side verify the other's moves from afar without direct contact.
What Are the Challenges in Achieving Full De-escalation and Trust?
China's fast roads and bases let its troops return quickly even after pullbacks, while India's setup takes longer, so constant watch is needed to avoid surprises.
Harsh Ladakh weather in winter raises accident risks, and past broken agreements make India cautious, starting with small fixes before big boundary talks.
Buffer zones still block some Indian patrols, and without a marked border, small overlaps could spark new issues if trust isn't fully rebuilt.
What Are the Broader Implications for India-China Relations?
These steps link to bigger ties, like the August 2025 Doval-Wang Yi meet and Modi-Xi talks at BRICS, aiming for stable borders to grow trade and diplomacy.
Success could lead to deals on water sharing from shared rivers and economic links, supporting India's growth and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
It fits India's Atmanirbhar Bharat by pushing local tech for border tools, but failure might raise tensions amid global issues like US-China rivalry.
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