Eastern Ladakh row: India, China look to LAC resolution to ‘enable progress’ in ties
The HinduIndia and China on Sunday held “frank and in-depth” talks on the two remaining friction areas on the Line of Actual Control, and days ahead of the first visit by the Chinese Defence Minister to New Delhi since the start of the border crisis, agreed that restoring peace along the border areas would “enable progress” in recently strained relations. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing that “according to the important common understanding of the leaders of both countries, the two sides held in-depth exchange of views on expediting the resolution of relevant issues.” No breakthrough yet The statements suggested no breakthrough as yet on the two remaining friction points in Demchok and Depsang. Chinese officials in statements have recently claimed border management has already moved towards “normalised” control, although that is not the view in New Delhi given the continued deployment of troops close to the LAC. “But the border issue remains complex, so it still requires both sides to further implement mechanisms at all levels and through different channels to meet each other halfway as much as possible, so as to find a fair and reasonable solution.” Chinese experts are yet to offer any explanation of why the PLA mobilised in unprecedented numbers in April 2020, and contravening past agreements, pushed up towards China’s LAC claim lines in several areas, denying India access to the overlapping “grey zones” patrolled previously by both sides.