India, China reaffirm commitment to peace along LAC

Although both nations have completed disengagement at all major friction points, around 50,000 to 60,000 troops from each side remain deployed in the region, indicating that the situation has not yet returned to full normalcy.

This was the first round of military talks since the meeting between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in August.

Talks held in cordial atmosphere

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), discussions were conducted in a “friendly and constructive environment.” Both sides reviewed the progress made since the 22nd round of Corps Commander-level talks held in October 2024 and expressed satisfaction that peace and stability have largely been maintained along the LAC.

The MEA said both countries agreed to continue resolving border issues through existing mechanisms and maintain open channels of communication to prevent misunderstandings.

Steps towards normalising ties

India and China have been taking gradual steps to normalise relations following the four-year military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which began in 2020 and ended last year with troop withdrawals from Demchok and Depsang.

After Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi for Special Representative-level talks in August, both sides announced measures to make bilateral ties more “stable and cooperative.” These included maintaining border peace, resuming border trade, and promoting mutual investment.

Active dialogue to continue

The Chinese Ministry of Defense said the two sides held in-depth and constructive discussions on managing the western sector of the China–India border. They also reaffirmed their commitment to continue dialogue through both military and diplomatic channels, in line with the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping.

The border standoff, which began in May 2020, escalated after the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, severely straining bilateral relations.

However, during the Modi–Xi meeting in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, both leaders agreed to revive dialogue mechanisms aimed at rebuilding trust and maintaining long-term stability along the LAC.