India and China Work Towards Peace: 75% of Border Issues Resolved, Says Minister Jaishankar
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India provided an update on the current state of India-China relations. The MEA described ongoing efforts to resolve tensions through the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) meetings, which focus on managing border issues between the two nations.
Regular Updates from Minister Jaishankar
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has consistently addressed the relationship in various forums, emphasizing transparency and providing regular updates on the progress of WMCC discussions. Jaiswal mentioned that Jaishankar recently spoke about the relationship in Berlin and New Delhi, highlighting that 75% of disengagement problems between India and China have been resolved.
Recent WMCC Meeting
On August 29, India and China held the 31st WMCC meeting in Beijing. Both sides agreed to jointly uphold peace and tranquility in border areas according to bilateral agreements and protocols. The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), and the Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department.
Constructive Discussions
The discussions were described as frank, constructive, and forward-looking. Both sides agreed to intensify contact through diplomatic and military channels to narrow down differences and find early resolutions to outstanding issues. They reiterated that restoring peace and respect for the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is essential for normalizing bilateral relations.
Background
In 2020, Indian and Chinese troops clashed at Galwan, leading to heightened tensions. Since then, both sides have maintained forward positions near Patrolling Point 15 in eastern Ladakh. Over 50,000 Indian soldiers have been stationed at forward posts along the LAC to prevent any unilateral changes to the status quo.
Doubts Revealed
MEA -: MEA stands for the Ministry of External Affairs. It is a part of the Indian government that handles India’s relations with other countries.
India-China relations -: India-China relations refer to the diplomatic and political interactions between India and China, two neighboring countries in Asia.
Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) -: The WMCC is a special group set up by India and China to discuss and solve issues related to their border and maintain peace.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar -: S Jaishankar is the person in charge of the Ministry of External Affairs in India. He helps manage India’s relationships with other countries.
Disengagement issues -: Disengagement issues refer to problems related to military forces moving away from each other to reduce tensions at the border.
31st WMCC meeting -: The 31st WMCC meeting is the 31st time the special group from India and China met to discuss and solve border issues.
Beijing -: Beijing is the capital city of China, where the 31st WMCC meeting took place.
Diplomatic and military contacts -: Diplomatic contacts are talks between government officials, and military contacts are interactions between the armed forces of the two countries.
