Sorting out the LAC

India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, met for the 21st round of Special Representatives’ (SR) talks at Dujiangyan near Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province on 24 November 2018. In discussions that have been described as “constructive and forward looking”, the two SRs resolved to “intensify” their efforts to achieve a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable” solution to the longstanding territorial and boundary dispute at an early date.

The truth is that resolution of the dispute is stuck in a groove entirely due to Chinese intransigence. In fact, despite prolonged negotiations, so far it has not been possible to accept a common alignment of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and delineate it on the ground and on military maps. The two sides have failed to even exchange maps showing their perception of the LAC except in the least contentious Central Sector, that is, along the Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh borders with Tibet.

Stand-offs on the LAC

Much different from the disputed 4,056 km- long international boundary, the LAC implies de facto military control over respective areas and came into use after the 1962 border war. There are frequent incidents of transgression of the LAC both in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Both sides habitually send patrols up to the point at which the LAC runs in their perception. These patrols leave “tell-tale” signs behind in the form of burjis (piles of stones), biscuit and cigarette packets and other similar markers in a sort of primitive ritual to lay stake to territory and assert their claim.

While no violent incident has taken place in the recent past, there have been many occasions when Indian and Chinese patrols have met face-to-face. Such face-offs have an element of tension built into them and, despite the best of military training, the possibility of a shooting match can never be ruled out. An armed clash that stretches over several days and in which there are heavy casualties can lead to a larger border incident that may not remain localised. The un-delineated LAC is a destabilising factor as major incidents such as the Nathu La clash of 1967 and the Wang Dung stand-off of 1986 can recur. Unimplemented Agreements The two sides have signed a number of agreements and agreed on many confidence building measures to maintain peace on tranquility of the border. These include the Agreement on Maintaining Peace and Tranquillity Along the Line of Actual Control