India, China Agree to Uphold Peace and Tranquility at Border in 31st WMCC Meeting

India and China have committed to jointly upholding peace and tranquility along the border areas during the 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), held in Beijing on Thursday. The discussions focused on maintaining stability by bilateral agreements and protocols, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India reported.

The meeting saw a “frank, constructive, and forward-looking” exchange of views on the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Both sides agreed to enhance communication through diplomatic and military channels to narrow differences and work toward an early resolution of outstanding issues.

The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), MEA, while the Chinese side was represented by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The discussions were guided by the outcomes of the meetings between the Foreign Ministers of India and China held in Astana and Vientiane in July 2024, where both nations agreed to accelerate discussions on border issues. The two sides reiterated the importance of restoring peace and tranquility along the LAC as a foundation for normalizing bilateral relations.

Both countries emphasized their commitment to upholding peace on the ground and respecting the LAC as per the agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between their governments. The restoration of peace and respect for the LAC were deemed essential for resuming normal bilateral ties, according to the MEA statement.

The Indian delegation also met with the Vice Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the visit. This latest meeting builds on the previous round of diplomatic talks held in August, where both nations agreed to uphold peace along the LAC and work towards resolving outstanding issues.

Tensions between India and China have been high since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, which occurred amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, both sides have maintained significant military presence along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, particularly near Patrolling Point 15, a key friction point. Over 50,000 Indian soldiers have been deployed at forward posts along the LAC since 2020 to deter any unilateral attempts to change the status quo.