PATROLLING AGREEMENT WITH CHINA
In a dramatic development, India and China have reached an agreement on “patrolling arrangements” and a resolution of the military standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the government announced on Monday (October 21, 2024).
BACKGROUND
- 2020: Chinese and Indian troops clashed at Nathu La. Tensions grew in the Galwan valley in Ladakh area.
Issue: India’s construction of a road from Darbuk to Daulat Beg Oldi via Shyok.
India retaliated by banning Chinese apps in India.
SOME SUCCESS WRT DISENGAGEMENT
- Indian and Chinese troops kicked off disengagement from Patrolling Point-15 (PP 15) in the larger Gogra-Hot Springs area of eastern Ladakh.
- The move comes ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan in 2022, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to participate.
PERSISTING CHALLENGE
The big problem for India remains the major encroachment by the PLA in the Depsang Bulge & Demchock Plains.
WHERE IS THIS PATROLLING AGREEMENT APPLICABLE?
The patrolling arrangement agreement extends beyond the areas along the LAC where there has already been a disengagement of military personnel over the past few years, and include the so far unresolved areas of Demchok and Depsang, indicating that the India-China standoff since April 2020 is now expected to be resolved.
DOES THIS MEAN STATUS QUO IS ACHIEVED?
While the MEA did not give further details of the agreement, and whether there would be a reversion to the status quo pre-2020, and whether the “buffer zones” more recently created would continue to exist for patrolling purposes”, Mr. Misri said that the two sides had “reached an agreement on the issues that were being discussed”
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