On Monday, China stated that the border dispute with India is complex and will take time to resolve. However, they are prepared to discuss delimitation to maintain peace in the border area.
This statement from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning came after the bilateral meeting held during the SCO Defense Ministers' meeting in Qingdao on June 26 between India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and China's Defense Minister Dong Jun.
During this bilateral meeting, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh proposed a 'structured roadmap' for clear demarcation of the border to reduce tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He called for activating existing mechanisms to reduce border tensions and for demarcation.
When the media in Beijing asked Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning to comment on Defense Minister Rajnath Singh's statement, Mao said both countries have already set up a Special Representative (SR) mechanism.
Source: aajtak
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The media questioned Mao Ning why it has taken so long to resolve the border dispute even after 23 SR meetings between the two countries? In response, Mao explained, 'The boundary issue is complex and solving it takes time'.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning pointed out the positive side that both nations have already established communications at various levels to resolve the border dispute and establish peace.
When Mao was asked if a timeline could be set to resolve the India-China border dispute, he responded - We hope India will work with China in the same direction and continue dialogue over complex issues to maintain peace and stability in the border areas.
What has happened so far?
The 23rd SR meeting took place last September between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India's NSA Ajit Doval. In that meeting, both countries reaffirmed the disengagement agreement for 2024. This agreement allowed patrolling and grazing activities to be resumed in specific areas.
In Qingdao, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh urged ground-level actions to bridge the trust deficit caused by the 2020 standoff in the border area.
The India-China Border Dispute
India and China, the two largest countries in Asia, have been entangled in a border dispute for decades. This conflict not only impacts both nations but also the peace and security of the entire Asian continent. The countries share a 3,488 km long border, divided into three sectors.
In the western sector, China controls Aksai Chin, which is part of Ladakh. China claims it as part of its Xinjiang province.
In the middle sector, the border dispute between the nations is also present in the areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, involving much smaller regions.
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In the eastern sector, China claims Arunachal Pradesh as its territory, viewing it as part of Tibet.
Recent Disputes between the Two Countries
In 2017, a standoff occurred between China and India in Doklam. China attempted to construct roads at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction, which India strongly opposed. The standoff lasted for 73 days with soldiers from both nations facing off.
Violent Clash in Galwan in 2020
On June 15-16, 2020, soldiers from China and India confronted each other in the Galwan Valley at the LAC. The clash resulted in casualties, with India losing 20 soldiers, including a commander, while China initially withheld information about their casualties but later acknowledged the death of four soldiers.
Skirmish in Tawang in 2022
In Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, troops from both nations faced off in 2022, leading to a skirmish. This incident highlighted the ongoing tension between the two countries.
