China says India border is stable, contrasting with Indian view
NBCAPR 20 2023
India and China have agreed to de-escalate border tensions that had arisen since the deadly clashes between their troops in 2020. This comes ahead of a possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pres. Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in Russia on Oct. 22-24.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Monday said the two nuclear powers had agreed to a patrolling arrangement along their Himalayan border. Their troops had reportedly stopped patrolling in many places in the Ladakh region and stacked up reinforcements amid hostilities.
The areas that the two sides have agreed to resume patrolling in — reportedly the first step towards full-scale disengagement — include the Depsang and Demchok regions of Ladakh. Earlier, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had reported disengagement of troops in four areas of Ladakh.
After nearly four years of tense military standoff, the new deal between India and China offers hope for normalized relations. Clearly, both nations are ready to narrow their differences. Beijing appears to be recognizing the costs of its aggressive stance — damaged relations with a major Asian neighbor and lost economic opportunities — while Delhi acknowledges the importance of engagement. This breakthrough could restore vital political and economic ties.
The long-running India-China border dispute cannot be solved by a one-off deal to de-escalate tensions. While diplomatic talks have achieved limited troop withdrawals in the past, the core dispute remains unresolved. As both nuclear-armed nations enhance their military presence and infrastructure, the risk of future conflict grows, threatening strategic stability in Asia and complicating an already fragile relationship.