China and India have agreed to resume patrols in the Himalayan border area, which had been suspended since 2020. This move is interpreted as a conciliatory gesture to facilitate a bilateral meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming BRICS Summit starting on the 22nd.
According to Bloomberg and Reuters on the 21st, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced at an event in New Delhi that both countries have agreed to resume patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border region. He stated, “This marks the end of the process of disengagement with China,” adding that “the border situation is returning to the 2020 levels.”
A senior Indian military officer told Reuters that the military forces of both countries will patrol disputed areas along the border according to an agreed schedule to avoid clashes and will slightly withdraw troops. The officer explained that monthly meetings and monitoring will ensure there are no violations.
This announcement comes ahead of the ‘BRICS Summit 2024’, which will be held in Kazan, Russia, from the 22nd for three days. Bloomberg noted that “this sets the stage for a bilateral meeting between Xi and Modi during the summit.”
Previously, the two leaders met at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg last year but did not hold a bilateral meeting. Their last meeting was at the G20 Summit in Bali in 2022.
Jaishankar also hinted at a follow-up meeting to plan the next steps, raising expectations for a bilateral meeting. He stated, “The agreement to resume border patrolling lays the foundation for peace and tranquility in the border area,” noting, “This should have existed prior to 2020.”
China and India share a 3,488 km border along the Himalayas, but China does not acknowledge it, leading to ongoing border disputes. In June 2020, a violent clash occurred near the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and 4 Chinese soldiers, rapidly deteriorating bilateral relations. Both countries then heavily deployed fighter jets, tanks, and troops to the area, escalating tensions.
Following the incident, India imposed strict regulations on Chinese companies looking to invest in the country, banned hundreds of Chinese apps, and delayed visa approvals, continuing the conflict between the two nations. Dipendra Singh Hooda, a former Indian Army officer, commented on the agreement, saying, “New trust-building is needed on both sides, but at least the stalemate has been broken.”
However, it remains uncertain whether the announced measures to ease military tensions along the China-India border will be implemented. AP reported that Vikram Misri, India’s Deputy Foreign Minister, did not specifically mention the withdrawal of thousands of additional troops deployed along the border during a press conference. Furthermore, the Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment on the Indian government’s announcement.