New Delhi: India and China have reached an agreement to resume patrolling along their disputed border in Depsang and Demchok, effectively ending a four-year military standoff. The announcement comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia for the BRICS Summit from October 22 to 24, where he may engage in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
To clarify, India never lost control of its territories to China; rather, it was denied access for patrolling in certain areas. This access has now been restored, effectively returning to the status quo ante just ahead of the BRICS meet.
The deal allows India to patrol its side of Demchok and Depsang, going back to patrolling as was being done till 2020, addressing long-standing issues faced by local graziers in the region. While the terrain in this area is relatively flat, it still presents challenges for both sides.
The latest update includes new patrolling protocols that have been established between India and China. Under these, both sides are limited to conducting patrols twice a month at designated points, and with a selected number of personnel. Each side is required to notify the other before undertaking a patrol to prevent any potential clashes.
In Episode 1537 of #CutTheClutter, Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta and Defence Editor Snehesh Alex Philip analyse the motivations, new protocols and political implications of this disengagement. They also explore the buffer zones along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the contentious points and how this situation differs from past de-escalations.
Also Read: Depsang ‘resolved’, patrolling to ‘agreed perceived LAC’. What India & China have agreed on