India–China Border Delimitation
Prelims:
International
Relations
Mains:
GS Paper II –
India and its Neighbourhood Relations; Bilateral Relations, GS Paper III –
Border Management and Security Challenges
Current relevance:
Following the 25th round of Special
Representatives’ talks in Beijing, India and China agreed to advance
discussions towards an “early and substantial harvest” of boundary
delimitation.
Highlights:
Progress on Boundary Delimitation:
1.
India–China border talks was conducted under the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism
to discuss the boundary question and strengthen border management.
2.
Both
countries agreed to advance discussions towards an “early and substantial
harvest” of boundary delimitation.
3.
The
Expert Group on Boundary Delimitation and the Working Group on Border
Management under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination
(WMCC) will take forward discussions on delimitation and border management.
4.
Both
sides reiterated their commitment to negotiations on a framework for settling
the boundary question in accordance with the 2005 Agreement on Political
Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the India-China Boundary
Question.
Strengthening Border Management:
1.
India
and China agreed to establish two additional meeting points for General
Level or Senior Highest Military Commander meetings.
2.
They
also agreed to establish two additional border military hotline channels
in the Eastern and Middle Sectors.
3.
Situations
on the ground will be addressed through existing diplomatic and military
mechanisms, including the WMCC and local commander-level meetings.
4.
These
mechanisms aim to resolve outstanding issues and prevent misunderstanding
and miscalculation along the LAC.
5.
Both
sides also discussed improving their understanding of the LAC in appropriate
areas to facilitate better border management.
Cooperation on Trans-Border Rivers:
1.
Both
countries agreed to maintain communication regarding the sharing of
hydrological data. This forms part of broader efforts to strengthen trans-border
cooperation between India and China.
Border Cooperation:
1.
Both
sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and tranquillity
along the border, considering it important for the healthy and steady
development of bilateral relations.
2.
Recent
progress in India–China trans-border cooperation includes the resumption of
border trade through the three designated trading points.
·
Lipulekh
Pass in Uttarakhand,
·
Shipki
La in Himachal Pradesh
·
Nathu
La in Sikkim.
3.
The
number of batches permitted for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra has also
increased.
4.
India
and China agreed to further strengthen cooperation in border trade,
pilgrimage and other areas.
Source: THE HINDU - https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-china-to-push-for-early-and-substantial-harvest-of-border-delimitation/article71393272.ece