Updated: October 1, 2020 7:26:50 am
Indian army trucks leave for Ladakh amid a clash between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, on the Manali-Leh highway in the Kullu district. (PTI photo)
One day after Beijing hardened its position and said no recognize the Union Territory of Ladakh and opposing the construction of Indian infrastructure there, Indian and Chinese diplomats met via virtual mode and New Delhi said the two sides should “avoid misunderstandings and maintain stability on the ground.”
As the India-China Border Affairs Consultation and Coordination Working Mechanism (CMMC) met for the fifth time since the border standoff began in May, they said the next round of the Senior Commanders meeting “should be held. at an early date so that both parties can work toward the prompt and complete withdrawal of troops throughout LAC in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols, and fully restore peace and tranquility. “
After the WMCC meeting, the Foreign Ministry said that the two sides “reviewed the current situation along the Royal Line of Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas and had frank and detailed discussions on developments. since the last meeting of the WMCC on August 20, 2020 ”.
No progress, but no escalation
Indian and Chinese diplomats sat down on Wednesday and held talks. Although there is no progress in the border confrontation, the situation on the ground has not yet escalated. The key will be to continue with no escalation and then move towards de-escalation.
“The two sides attached importance to the meetings between the two Defense Ministers and the two Foreign Ministers held earlier this month. They also pointed out that the agreement between the two Foreign Ministers must be implemented with sincerity to ensure disconnection at all points of friction throughout LAC, ”he said.
In this regard, he said that the two parties “positively evaluated the result of the sixth meeting of senior officials on September 21. They emphasized the need to implement the steps outlined in the joint press release issued after the last senior commanders meeting to avoid misunderstandings and maintain stability on the ground. In this context, both parties emphasized the need to strengthen communication, especially between ground commanders ”.
The MEA statement also said that both sides agreed to continue to hold close consultations at the diplomatic and military level. In this sense, “they agreed that the next (7th) round of the Senior Commanders meeting should be held at an early date so that both parties can work towards the prompt and complete withdrawal of troops throughout LAC in accordance with the regulations. existing bilateral agreement and protocols, and fully restore peace and tranquility, ”the statement said.
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At the 19th meeting of the WMCC on Wednesday, the Indian delegation was led by the Deputy Secretary (East Asia) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Director General of the Boundary and Ocean Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation.
MEA Undersecretary Naveen Srivastava, who led the Indian delegation, was part of the last Corps Commanders meeting in Moldo last week.
Pushing forward its old line of claims in Ladakh and hardening its position on the situation there, Beijing had said on Tuesday that it does not recognize the Union Territory of Ladakh and opposes the construction of Indian infrastructure there.
New Delhi had reacted strongly, saying that it “has never accepted the so-called 1959 Royal Line of Control defined unilaterally”, and that it is “unsustainable”.
This exchange comes a week after their military commanders met in Moldo following the Moscow agreement between the foreign ministers to reduce tensions in LAC.
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Beijing’s comments now run counter to the spirit of the conversation between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on September 10. Prime Minister Zhou Enlai to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a letter dated November 7, 1959.
In New Delhi, the MEA responded to this statement. “India has never accepted the unilaterally defined 1959 so-called Royal Line of Control (LAC). This position has been consistent and well known, including by China, “MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said Tuesday.
India’s response, sharp in tone and tenor, after the sixth round of Corps Commander-level talks, also attended by a senior Indian diplomat leading the WMCC, indicates that the two sides have also toughened up. their positions diplomatically.
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