On Wednesday, 22nd February 2024, Indian and Chinese officials held a meeting- the first in-person diplomatic talks since July 2019, which was held under the WMCC framework in Beijing on the standoff across the LAC (Line of Actual Control). During the meeting, the two sides agreed to hold the 18th round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective in line with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols.
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WMCC
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was instituted in 2012 as a medium for consultation and coordination for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas. It was set in motion soon after the face-off along the LAC which began in May 2020 but all the 11 meetings since then were held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. WMCC last met on 14th October 2022, but there were no breakthroughs in the meeting. Both nations only committed themselves to further talks to find a solution to the standoff.
Shilpak Ambule, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the MEA headed the Indian delegation, looking at ties with China, Japan, and the Koreas. Hong Liang, the Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation.
Statements by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India
The official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs stated that “the two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas and considered proposals for disengagement in the remaining areas in an open and constructive manner, which would aid the restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in Western Sector and creating a conducive environment to restore of normalcy in bilateral relations of India and China.”
The MEA statement also mentioned that they agreed to conduct the next (18th) round of the Senior Commanders meeting at an early date in order to achieve this objective in agreement with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols. The two sides gave consent for the continuation of discussions via military and diplomatic routes.
Statements by the Foreign Ministry of China
The Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing issued a separate statement, stating the two sides reviewed the ‘positive progress’ made in the initial stage of China-India border control and affirmed the results of the disengagement of the two border soldiers in the Galwan Valley and other four locations. It also added that they had an open and in-depth exchange of views on the approach for the next stage of consultation.
India has been firm on its decision that normalcy cannot be achieved with China unless there is peace in the border areas. India holding the Presidency of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit which is likely to be held in June-July this year, and the G-20 summit which is scheduled to be held in September shows a willingness to resolve the issues with China by sending in the top official to Beijing. But the diplomatic ties with our neighbor China will depend on its actions across the border areas where it has amassed huge troops.
