India and China Strengthen Border Calm: Key Military Talks Signal Path to De-Escalation After Ladakh Disengagements

Why in News

In a significant step towards easing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India and China held their 23rd round of Corps Commander-level talks on October 25, 2024, at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point. This was the first high-level military dialogue since recent disengagement agreements at the last friction points in Depsang and Demchok, completed just days earlier on October 30. Both sides committed to maintaining peace and using existing mechanisms to resolve ground issues, amid ongoing efforts to restore pre-2020 patrolling norms and reduce the trust deficit built over four years of standoff.

Key Points

1. The 23rd round of talks, held in a friendly atmosphere, reviewed progress since the previous meeting in October 2023 and affirmed that peace and tranquility have been maintained along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
2. India and China agreed to continue diplomatic and military channels, including coordinated patrols, to prevent clashes and address any emerging ground issues.
3. This follows the October 21, 2024, breakthrough on disengagement at Depsang and Demchok, where troops and structures were pulled back to pre-2020 positions, with joint verification now underway.
4. Despite disengagements at six friction points since 2020, including Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso, full de-escalation remains pending, with 50,000-60,000 troops still deployed on each side.
5. The meeting builds on August 2024 Special Representatives' talks between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese FM Wang Yi, and PM Modi's bilateral with President Xi Jinping, aiming to revive mechanisms like the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
6. India has enhanced surveillance along the LAC with round-the-clock monitoring tech to reduce patrolling risks, while both sides implement confidence-building measures like technical infrastructure reliance.
7. China's defence ministry echoed the commitment to "active communication" under leaders' consensus to safeguard border stability.
8. Ground commanders (brigadiers and below) will decide future patrolling modalities, with exchanges like Diwali sweets planned to foster goodwill.
9. The disengagement restores access to patrolled areas previously blocked, but buffer zones in other spots persist until further talks.
10. Experts note this paves the way for de-induction of extra forces, crucial for normalising ties strained since the 2020 Galwan clash that killed 20 Indian soldiers.

Explained

What Is the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Why Is It a Source of Tension Between India and China?

Historical Origins of the LAC: The LAC is an undefined 3,488-km de facto border in the Himalayas, emerging from colonial-era British surveys and post-1947 ambiguities; it was first formalized in 1950s agreements but never delimited, leading to differing perceptions—India sees it as per 1956 maps, while China claims based on 1960 lines, causing overlaps in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Key Friction Points in Ladakh: Eastern Ladakh, especially Depsang Plains and Demchok, became hotspots due to infrastructure builds like China's road in Galwan Valley (2013-2020) and India's Darbuk-Shyok-DBO road, escalating into the May 2020 standoff with troop buildups violating pre-2020 status quo.

Impact of the 2020 Galwan Clash: The June 15, 2020, brawl killed 20 Indian and at least 4 Chinese soldiers, marking the deadliest border incident in decades and prompting global concerns over nuclear-armed neighbors' brinkmanship.

What Led to the Recent Disengagement Agreements and How Was It Achieved?

Timeline of Disengagements Since 2020: Six rounds pulled back troops from Galwan, Pangong Tso (February 2021), Gogra-Hot Springs (2022), creating buffer zones to halt face-offs; the October 21, 2024, pact targeted Depsang and Demchok—the last holdouts—restoring pre-April 2020 positions without new buffers.

Role of Multi-Level Dialogues: Over 20 Corps Commander meetings, plus Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) sessions, facilitated the breakthrough; August 2024 SR talks by Doval-Wang Yi provided political impetus, aligning with Modi-Xi Kazan meet on October 23.

Verification and Implementation Process: Joint patrols and tech surveillance (drones, satellites) ensure compliance; disengagement started October 23, completed by October 30, with local commanders finalizing patrol frequencies to avoid "eyeball-to-eyeball" confrontations.

What Are the Key Mechanisms for Border Management Between India and China?

Corps Commander-Level Talks: Established in 2012, these twice-yearly meetings at Chushul-Moldo involve 14th Corps (India) and Tibet Military District (China) generals to resolve ground disputes; the 23rd round emphasized "existing mechanisms" like hotlines and flags meetings.

Special Representatives' Mechanism: Since 2003, led by NSA Doval and Vice Foreign Minister, it handles political-level boundary talks; the 24th round in August 2024 focused on full de-escalation post-disengagement.

Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs): Include 1993 and 1996 agreements banning firing, 2005 protocol on modalities, and recent additions like shared maps for patrols; India bolsters with integrated battle groups and high-altitude tech amid trust deficit.

How Does This Development Impact Bilateral Relations and Regional Stability?

Normalisation Efforts Post-Standoff: Reviving yatras, flights, and trade (bilateral $136 billion in 2023) signals thaw; however, full de-escalation could take months, with troops' pullback tied to mutual verification to prevent surprises.

Strategic Implications for India: Enhances focus on infrastructure (BRO projects like Atal Tunnel) and deterrence; reduces diversion of 60,000 troops from other fronts, aiding "multi-alignment" in Indo-Pacific amid QUAD ties.

Broader Geopolitical Context: Aligns with global calls for restraint; China's assertiveness in South China Sea parallels LAC moves, while India's "neighbourhood first" balances via SCO/BRICS engagements with Beijing.

What Challenges Remain for Full De-Escalation and Long-Term Peace?

Persistent Deployment and Buffer Zones: 50,000-60,000 troops each side strain logistics in harsh terrain; dismantling temporary structures and resuming patrols in buffer areas (e.g., PP-15) risks renewed friction without clear maps.

Trust Deficit and Differing Perceptions: Historical mistrust from 1962 war lingers; China's "salami-slicing" tactics (incremental encroachments) versus India's "no aggression" stance requires sustained CBMs and delimitation talks.

External Factors and Future Roadmap: Climate change melts glaciers, altering LAC; experts urge third-party mediation avoidance, focusing on 2025 SR rounds for a boundary framework, per 2005 protocol principles.

MCQ Facts

Mains Question