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India and China Move Toward De-Escalation as Border Tensions Remain
India and China Move Toward De-Escalation as Border Tensions Remain
Sputnik India
After a five-year hiatus, the 23rd Special Representative (SR) meeting between India and China, held in Beijing, marked a significant step towards easing tensions between the two nations, strained since the 2020 Galwan clash.
2024-12-19T20:48+0530
2024-12-19T20:48+0530
2024-12-19T20:52+0530
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The meeting, attended by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, resulted in a six-point consensus.That focused on maintaining peace, resolving the boundary issue and enhancing cross-border tourism, including the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Nathu La trade.The meeting follows last month’s bilateral meet between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit and the disengagement agreement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Depsang and Demchok.The resumption of talks reflects both nations’ commitment to peace along their borders, Dr Swaran Singh, professor of International Relations at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), told Sputnik India.The six agreements reached in Beijing during the talks arwe crucial and mark one more step towards normalising India-China relations, geopolitical expert Claude Arpi told Sputnik India.In light of ongoing global tensions, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, India's approach to de-escalation with China stands out as both a strategic move and a necessity, he said.As both armies prepare to spend their fifth winter in sub-zero temperatures along the border, striking a deal is crucial for maintaining stability, he stressed.Arpi suggested that could also allow India to play a mediation role in conflicts like those in Ukraine and the Middle East."Continued engagement, especially within multilateral forums, has proven beneficial in fostering dialogue and breaking the ice between the two nations," he addedInfrastructure development in contested areas like Doklam and the Siliguri Corridor remains a critical issue, the experts emphasised.Recent satellite images revealing China building villages within Bhutanese territory, raising security concerns for India, they noted — especially over the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch connecting India’s north-eastern states to the rest of the country.While India has been developing its infrastructure along the borders, it must continue to do so as a deterrent and the Siliguri Corridor's security must be prioritised, Arpi suggests.While India faces challenges in intervening in Bhutanese territory and the Siliguri Corridor poses a security threat to India, the development of the Chumbi Corridor in Tibet could be seen as a potential threat to China’s defence, Arpi explained.Singh added that the economic growth of both countries makes improved military preparedness and infrastructure inevitable. But to avoid escalating tensions, they must focus on dialogue and mutual trust.
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india-china border talks, normalization, india-china relations, special representatives talks,
india-china border talks, normalization, india-china relations, special representatives talks,
India and China Move Toward De-Escalation as Border Tensions Remain
20:48 19.12.2024 (Updated: 20:52 19.12.2024) After a five-year hiatus, the 23rd India-China Special Representatives meeting in Beijing on Wednesday marked a key step in easing tensions that have been strained since the 2020 Galwan clash.
The meeting, attended by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, resulted in a six-point consensus.
That focused on maintaining peace, resolving the boundary issue and enhancing cross-border tourism, including the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Nathu La trade.
The meeting follows last month’s bilateral meet between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit and the disengagement agreement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Depsang and Demchok.
The resumption of talks reflects both nations’ commitment to peace along their borders, Dr Swaran Singh, professor of International Relations at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), told Sputnik India.
"Given the intricate nature of these border disputes, it is essential for both sides to take a gradual approach towards sustainable solutions," Singh said. "This should begin with de-escalation efforts and the establishment of a shared understanding regarding the patrolling of the Line of Actual Control."
The six agreements reached in Beijing during the talks arwe crucial and mark one more step towards
normalising India-China relations, geopolitical expert
Claude Arpi told
Sputnik India.In light of ongoing global tensions, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East,
India's approach to de-escalation with China stands out as both a strategic move and a necessity, he said.
"It is both a strategic move and a necessity as India does not want a third party to intervene in its dispute with China," Arpi said. "India needs to find an understanding directly with China."
As both armies prepare to spend their fifth winter in sub-zero temperatures along the border, striking a deal is crucial for maintaining stability, he stressed.
Arpi suggested that could also allow India to play a mediation role in conflicts like those in Ukraine and the Middle East.
But "unlike those situations where diplomatic channels have often been closed, India and China have kept diplomatic channels open, notably, their bilateral trade has seen significant growth during the past four years of tension," Singh highlighted.
"Continued engagement, especially within multilateral forums, has proven beneficial in fostering dialogue and breaking the ice between the two nations," he added
Infrastructure development in contested areas like Doklam and the Siliguri Corridor remains a critical issue, the experts emphasised.
Recent satellite images revealing China building villages within Bhutanese territory, raising security concerns for India, they noted — especially over the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch connecting India’s north-eastern states to the rest of the country.
While India has been developing its infrastructure along the borders, it must continue to do so as a deterrent and the Siliguri Corridor's security must be prioritised, Arpi suggests.
"During the past four years, India has been developing its own infrastructure on the borders, whether in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand: New roads, airports [in Nyoma], villages close to the border are a matter of deterrence," Arpi said. "It was witnessed in the border clash which took place in Yangtse area in the Tawang region in December 2022."
While India faces challenges in intervening in Bhutanese territory and the Siliguri Corridor poses a security threat to India, the development of the Chumbi Corridor in Tibet could be seen as a potential threat to China’s defence, Arpi explained.
Singh added that the economic growth of both countries makes improved military preparedness and infrastructure inevitable. But to avoid escalating tensions, they must focus on dialogue and mutual trust.
"The initial signals from both sides discussing the 'lessons learned' over the past four years are encouraging and suggest that they are moving in a positive direction," Singh said.
