17th round of military talks: India, China to maintain stability on the ground along LAC in the western sector
India and China have held the 17th round of military-level talks to discuss Ladakh face-offs in the western sector at a time when there is simmering tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh on the eastern side. The latest military-level talks of Corps Commanders of the two armies were held on December 20 with a focus on resolving the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh, a joint statement issued by both countries said on Thursday. The last meeting was held in July.
After an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation for nearly two years starting in May 2020 at several flashpoints in eastern Ladakh, troops from both sides have withdrawn from all friction points with the last disengagement taking place in September. Ministry of External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said here on Thursday the 17th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side.
The statement also said “building on the progress made after the last meeting on July 17, 2022, 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.
“They had a frank and in-depth discussion, keeping in line with the guidance provided by the State Leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest which would help in the restoration of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and enable progress in bilateral relations.
“In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector. 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,” said the statement.
The eastern Ladakh region is referred to as the Western Sector by the government. India has all along maintained that relations with China cannot be normal till the status quo ante is restored as prevailing prior to May 2020 when the first face-off took place at the Pangong Tso (lake) in eastern Ladakh.
It triggered stand-off at some more sites including the deadly brawl on June 15 that year in Galwan Valley. Twenty Indian Army personnel including the commanding officer were killed in the clash while more than 40 Chinese soldiers also died. However, China has so far said four of its personnel were killed.
At present, more than 50,000 troops each from both sides are deployed at the LAC forward posts in eastern Ladakh leading to tension in the border areas. Besides military-level talks, the countries have also held several rounds of talks at the diplomatic level to restore normalcy.
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Keep talking & keep building up militarily. With every incursion, hit them hard.