India, China to hold border talks in Delhi today

NEW DELHI: The 18th Indo-China Special Representative talks on boundary dispute – first for the Narendra Modi government – in Delhi from Monday will focus on bringing clarity on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and explore a hotline at the level of National Security Advisers.

NSA and special representative for the border talks Ajit Doval would meet his Chinese counterpart and State Councillor Yang Jiechi on Monday and Tuesday to bring about some clarity on the 4,057-km LAC as announced by PM Narendra Modi during President Xi Jinping’s trip here last September.

Official sources said while Confidence Building Measures, including Border Defence Cooperation Agreement and Joint Secretary level mechanism, have worked well to prevent transgressions by each other’s troopers along LAC from flaring up, clarification of LAC could enable to prevent major transgressions like the one in 2013 (ahead of Chinese Premier’s visit) as well as in last September (during Xi’s visit). Both incidents in the Ladakh region have overshadowed the big visits. The last incident was resolved after simultaneous withdrawal by both sides after Xi’s visit.

The incident prompted Modi to suggest Xi that "clarification of LAC" would greatly contribute efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity at the border where troops from both sides often assert their claims and counter-claims. Xi had said there might be incidents like Chumar as the border is yet to be demarcated. Chinese officials also said LAC clarification could figure in this round of talks. Sources said transgressions occur as two sides have different perception of LAC.

Significantly, the talks are also being held ahead of Modi’s first visit to China expected in May. And there has been indication from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that there would be no transgression along LAC ahead of Modi’s trip to Beijing.