India & China review situation along the Eastern Ladakh border, discuss proposals for further disengagement

Reviewing the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of their border (India's Eastern Ladakh region) on Wednesday, India and China discussed disengagement in the remaining areas to restore peace and tranquility along the border.

The discussions took place at the 26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) held in Beijing. This was the first WMCC meeting since the 14th meeting held in July 2019, to be held in person.

In June 2020, a tense standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh had led to a violent face-off in Galwan Valley. Twenty Indian soldiers had lost their lives. A large number of Chinese troops were also killed though China has never officially confirmed the actual number of deaths.

Multiple rounds of talks since then have led to a disengagement at several points in that region.

According to India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during the latest WMCC meeting, the two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas.

They discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining areas in an open and constructive manner, which would help in restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in Western Sector and create conditions for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations.

To achieve this objective in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols, they agreed to hold the next (18th) round of the Senior Commanders meeting at an early date. The two sides agreed to continue discussions through military and diplomatic channels, the MEA added.

The Indian delegation was led by the Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Chinese delegation was led by the Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The WMCC was established in 2012 in order to give India and China a forum for talks and cooperation on border issues.