Recent talks between India and China have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Military commanders from both nations met on October 25 at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point, marking the 23rd round of Corps Commander-level discussions. This was the first meeting of military-level talks in Ladakh in a year.
The discussions followed the 24th round of Special Representatives (SRs)-level talks held in New Delhi on August 19, where National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the designated SRs, engaged in cordial discussions.
Both sides acknowledged the progress made since the 22nd round of Corps Commander-level meeting in October 2024, noting that peace and tranquility have been maintained in the India-China border areas. They agreed to continue utilizing existing mechanisms to address any on-the-ground issues and maintain stability in the region.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defence echoed this sentiment, stating that both countries had "engaged in active and in-depth communication on the management of the western section of the China-India border". They further agreed to maintain communication and dialogue through military and diplomatic channels, guided by the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas.
These discussions represent a step towards normalizing relations between India and China after a prolonged military face-off in eastern Ladakh. While troops remain deployed along the LAC, the agreement to maintain peace and resolve issues through existing mechanisms signals a positive development.
In the months leading up to this meeting, India and China have undertaken several measures to normalize their relationship, following the disengagement process from Demchok and Depsang. These measures include jointly maintaining peace along the border and promoting investment flows.
The military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020, escalating tensions after a clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020. The decision to revive dialogue mechanisms was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in October of the previous year.
