The Chinese Defence Ministry said on Thursday that China and India have made progress in reducing their differences and reaching consensus on withdrawing troops from contentious areas to resolve the standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. They have agreed to continue discussions in order to reach a mutually acceptable resolution at the earliest opportunity.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Li Jinsong, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, held a meeting with Pradeep Kumar Rawat, India’s Ambassador to China.
Following this meeting, the Chinese Defence Ministry stated that both China and India, through talks, were “able to reduce their differences and build some consensus besides agreeing to strengthen dialogue to accommodate each other’s legitimate concerns,” Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence said.
“The two sides agreed to reach a resolution at an early date acceptable to both sides,” he added.
According to sources, this suggests that Indian troops, whose access to certain patrolling points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh was blocked either by Chinese forces or due to the implementation of buffer zones created in the backdrop of disengagement at specific friction points, may soon regain access to these points.
In Beijing, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, stated during a media briefing that, under the guidance of their respective leaders, China and India have maintained communication through diplomatic and military channels. It includes discussions between the two Foreign Ministers and India’s National Security Advisor and through the border consultation mechanisms.
He was responding to a question about the discussions between the two countries regarding disengagement from the remaining friction points, especially Demchok and Depsang, in order to end the over four-year-long military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which has resulted in a freeze of relations between the two countries.
Zhang mentioned the meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as well as the recent meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in Russia between Wang and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The 22nd round of military talks between India and China at the Corps Commanders-level is expected to be held soon to work out the details, including a timeline, for the withdrawal of troops from both sides based on the mutual agreement reached. Currently, troops deployed along the LAC remain on high alert but avoid any confrontations that could erode trust and hinder the redeployment plans. As a confidence-building measure, local commanders from both sides on the ground have also been meeting to prevent clashes.
Team BharatShakti
