Officials from China, India meet to discuss border dispute

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 Feb 20:11

Both parties agreed to schedule the next round of meetings via commanders of the forces deployed on the borders.

In this Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, file photo, Indian army soldiers walk along the line of control at the India- China border in Bumla in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh (AP Photo/Anupam Nath, File)

Within the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that officials from both India and China have met in Beijing to settle the border dispute.

"The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas and discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining areas in an open and constructive manner, which would help in the restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in Western Sector and create conditions for the restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement added that both parties agreed to schedule the next round of meetings via commanders of the forces deployed on the borders.

"The two sides agreed to continue discussions through military and diplomatic channels," the ministry noted.

China and India have been disputing their borders ever since the UK adjusted the border twice between China and India without China's consultation.

The two countries do not share a fixed border but rather a Line of Actual Control which was created after the Sino-Indian 1962 war.

Tensions in the Ladakh region have resurfaced in May 2020 after Beijing reacted to the development of Indian infrastructure in the area.

As a result, New Delhi increased its military presence along the border.

The WMCC mechanism was launched in early June 2020 in a bid to ease tensions between both countries.

This particular meeting marks the first in-person WMCC meeting since the 14th meeting held in July 2019, and the 26th since the mechanism was launched.