In possible breakthrough, India & China agree on ‘total disengagement’ at LAC
After Doval-Wang Yi talks: ‘No unilateral steps to alter status quo’ by either side
In what seems a major breakthrough, India and China announced on Monday they have agreed to ensure “complete disengagement” of the troops of both countries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and de-escalation from border areas. Both sides also decided to complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC “expeditiously and ensure a phased and stepwise de-escalation”. It was also decided neither side will take any “unilateral action to alter the status quo” at the LAC and both nations will instead “work together to avoid any incident in future” that could disturb peace. This was agreed in a telephonic
conversation on Sunday between India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval and China’s state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi, when both had a “frank and in-depth exchange of views on recent developments in the western sector of India-China border areas”, the Indian government said.
Mr Doval and Mr Wang are also their countries’ special representatives on the “boundary question” and the interaction reflects a move at top levels in both nations to limp towards repair of the enormous damage in ties in the past two months, especially
after the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in midJune. Monday’s announcement comes in the wake of PM Narendra Modi’s Ladakh visit last week and India’s recent move to ban 59 Chinese apps.
On Monday, the external affairs ministry said: “They (Mr Doval and Mr Wang Yi) agreed it was necessary to ensure at the earliest the complete disengagement of troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquillity. In this regard they further agreed both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously. The two sides should also ensure a phased and stepwise deescalation in the IndiaChina border areas.”
The MEA added: “They reaffirmed both sides should strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control and should not take any unilateral action to alter the status quo and work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquillity.” It said the two SRs “agreed both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the IndiaChina border areas was essential for the further development of our bilateral relations and that two sides should not allow differences to become disputes.” This was a reference to reviving the earlier consensus between Mr Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on bilateral ties that faced a severe jolt in recent times.