BEIJING, China: China announced on Tuesday that it had reached a resolution with India regarding their long-standing border dispute along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
According to AFP this follows a statement from India’s foreign ministry, which confirmed an agreement for military patrols along the frontier. The resolution comes after a border skirmish in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers, escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries.
Both sides had previously pulled back troops from the region and agreed not to send patrols into a narrow strip near the LAC. According to China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, China and India have maintained communication through diplomatic and military channels, leading to this agreement. Lin expressed China’s “positive approval” of the deal, emphasizing that the next stage will involve the proper implementation of the resolution.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, highlighted that the disengagement with China was “complete” and that the agreement would help restore peace and stability along the border, akin to conditions before 2020.
This development coincides with the upcoming BRICS summit in Russia, where both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to attend. The border resolution has fueled speculation that the two leaders may engage in official talks during the summit, though no confirmation has been provided by Chinese officials.
The resolution marks a significant step in de-escalating tensions between two of the world’s largest economies, which have long vied for strategic influence across South Asia. However, longstanding territorial disputes, including China’s claim over India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, continue to pose challenges to lasting peace in the region.