New Delhi: After almost ten days (December 9) since the clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Tawang that the two sides held a fresh round of high-level military talks on December 20 which was described in a joint statement as being “frank and in-depth,” with focus on resolving the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh.
The statement said that this was in keeping in line with the guidance provided by the leaders of the two countries to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.
“The 17th round of India-China Corps Commander level meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on December 20,” Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a media briefing, reading from the statement. He said the two sides exchanged views on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western sector in an “open and constructive manner”.
“The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” it said.
Amid the 30-month border standoff in eastern Ladakh, India and China held the 17th round of Corp Commanders meet on December 20 at the Chushul-Mondo border. This was the first meeting between the two sides after Indian and Chinese troops recently clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector and the face-off led to “minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides”.
External Affairs Ministry said both sides had “frank and in-depth” talks based on the “guidance” given by the leaders. The two sides exchanged views on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the western sector in an “open and constructive manner”.
“Both sides have agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground and maintain a steady channel of communication,” Bagchi said. “The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.”
In September, Indian and Chinese troops completed the disengagement process at Patrolling Point-15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs region of eastern Ladakh. The development came following the 16th round of the India-China Corps Commander-level meeting, which was held at the Chushul-Moldo border in July. Last year, the two sides completed the disengagement process on the north and south banks of Pangong lake.
The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. More than 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020. The casualties on the Chinese side were much higher, reports said. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control.
Earlier this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign minister and State Councillor Wang Yi in Bali during the G-20 foreign ministers’ meeting and called for an early resolution to the more than a two-year-long standoff.
