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As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit next month, India and China held the 34th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs in New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting reflected a calibrated attempt by both sides to maintain stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) amid an evolving global and regional security environment.
The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while Hong Liang, Director General of the Department of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed the Chinese side. According to an official MEA statement, discussions centred on reviewing the border situation, maintaining peace, and preparing for the next round of Special Representatives’ Talks, scheduled to take place in India later this year.
Both sides acknowledged the “general prevalence of peace and tranquillity” in the border areas and reiterated their commitment to continued diplomatic and military-level engagements through established channels.
Strategic experts, however, urge against reading too much into these developments.
“This is not a resolution, it’s a tactical pause,” said Lt Col Manoj K Channan (Retd), a strategic affairs analyst and Indian Army veteran. “India’s approach to China must be rooted in realism, not idealism. Post-2020, trust cannot be assumed.”
Channan warned that the narrative of “gradual normalisation” must not allow China to consolidate its positions or use dialogue as a diplomatic lever. The 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, he emphasised, were a watershed moment that underscored the need for India to negotiate from a position of strength rather than concession.
Economic and Strategic Vulnerabilities
On the economic front, Channan flagged India’s ongoing dependence on China for raw materials and industrial machinery as a critical vulnerability. He called for urgent diversification of supply chains and the development of domestic manufacturing capacities to bolster India’s strategic autonomy.
He also highlighted the complex geopolitical matrix involving Russia-India-China (RIC) dynamics. While RIC remains a useful diplomatic platform, he cautioned against treating it as a mechanism for resolving bilateral tensions.
“China’s strategic intent is to contain India’s rise. RIC should be used smartly, not leaned on for validation,” Channan said.
The Military Imperative
India’s military posture, particularly through initiatives like Operation Sindoor on the western front, underscores the importance of maintaining calm along the LAC. With a credible two-front threat scenario involving both China and Pakistan, stability in the east is not a diplomatic concession but a strategic necessity.
“Peace with China is essential, but it must be backed by strength,” Channan asserted. “We must draw a clear distinction between China and Pakistan. Pakistan is a tactical irritant; China is a strategic peer.”
Foreign Policy Balancing Act
The WMCC talks also reflect India’s broader foreign policy priorities, which emphasise strategic flexibility. As New Delhi strengthens partnerships with the QUAD and BRICS while remaining active in the G7 and G20, it is carefully navigating between competing global blocs.
“In a world marked by Global South assertiveness, NATO realignments, and US-China rivalry, India must stay agile and clear-eyed,” Channan advised.
During the WMCC meeting, the Chinese delegation also met with India’s Foreign Secretary, underscoring their intent to maintain high-level diplomatic channels ahead of the SCO summit.
Yet for New Delhi, the message remains clear: border peace is a means to an end, not the end itself.
Huma Siddiqui
