26th August, New Delhi The international spotlight is now focused on the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during the G20 summit scheduled for September 9, 10, and New Delhi in the wake of conflicting statements from India and China regarding potential talks between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narender Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting held on August 24.
A glimmer of optimism may be seen in the distance, despite the fact that the situation at the border is still tight and there have been no recent breakthroughs on de-escalation. In particular, the recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi at the BRICS conference in Johannesburg is noteworthy since both leaders agreed on the need of maintaining calm, tranquilly, and deescalating tensions along their contentious border.
Both parties, as is clear from their formal declarations, have agreed to reduce tensions and are dedicated to settling their disputes amicably in order to advance bilateral relations. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra highlighted the results of these talks, emphasising that both presidents agreed to further up efforts to accelerate military withdrawal from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Kwatra effectively communicated Prime Minister Modi’s focus on the need of maintaining harmony and respect for the LAC in order to normalise ties between India and China.
In a statement, China’s Foreign Ministry expressed a similar message, stating that President Xi stressed the importance of improving China-India ties for regional and global peace, stability, and development as well as their mutual advantages.
The key result of this meeting is that it prepares them for their subsequent engagement at the G20 summit. According to experts, this preparation should take the shape of formal talks and agreements between military and administrative authorities.
These actions are intended to ease border tensions and establish confidence-building measures before the arrival of winter, especially in Ladakh’s border regions.
Three years of difficult negotiations between India and China have been accompanied by heightened tensions along the 3,440 km-long Line of Actual Control. A war between the two countries broke out in 1962 as a result of the decades-long conflict along specific stretches of this border.
The tragic battle in the Galwan region of Ladakh in 2020 and following clashes highlight the complexity of the issue and were notable escalations in recent years. India’s position hasn’t changed much since then. De-escalation in the Western Ladakh region must come first, then other problems.
The most recent diplomatic visits and ongoing discussions between senior army generals from both sides, however, indicate a readiness to explore solutions despite these obstacles.
In this line, recent interactions between Chinese and Indian leaders at the BRICS summit have paved the way for the improvement of bilateral ties.
The exchange took place at the 19th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting, when representatives from both countries had productive and in-depth talks about addressing outstanding problems along the LAC in the Western Sector. India Today quoting a senior army source said “the talks had started on August 19 and continued for six days as discussions were on between the Indian and the Chinese sides with breaks in between.
In the past, on August 19, India and China had begun major general-level negotiations in Eastern Ladakh’s DBO and Chushul area. A senior military official said that the negotiations began on August 19 and went on for six days, with interruptions in between, while conversations took place between the Chinese and Indian parties.
India Today quoting sources highlighted that the Indian side is looking for a resolution of the boundary issues at the Depsang Plains and the Charding Nilung Nallah (CNN) junction. Major General PK Mishra, who commands the Trishul Division, and Major General Hariharan, commander of the Uniform Force, represented the Indian side at the two locations. The world watches these two big countries manage this complex scenario with interest as the India-China border conflict remains an ongoing territorial dispute. With tensions in the front areas of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh and the historical complexities, the potential for fruitful dialogue is highly anticipated.
While challenges persist in certain areas, including the Depsang standoff, the ongoing military and diplomatic communications have yielded some positive outcomes, particularly the creation of buffer zones in specific conflict-ridden regions.
Despite the present uncertainties, the talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi signal a glimmer of optimism. The trajectory of their engagements, including the upcoming G20 summit discussions, could potentially herald a new chapter in their bilateral relationship, ultimately contributing to regional and global stability.
