India, China hold 21st Corps Commander Level Meeting for border peace

India and China have agreed to maintain peace and stability in the border areas including the Line of Actual Control. The 21st round of India-China Corps Commander level meeting was held on 19 February 2024 at Chushul-Moldo Border Meeting Point.

• This has been agreed to only after the high level military talks held during this period. However, in the talks on February 19, there was no clear discussion on the resolution of the dispute that has been going on for three and a half years.
• In the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, it was said that in the previous visits, discussions were held regarding withdrawal of armies of both the countries from the border areas. This is an important basis for peace on the border between India and China.

Both sides agreed on these issues:

• According to the Ministry of External Affairs, both sides shared their views on this issue in the talks which were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.
• The statement said both sides have agreed to maintain dialogue on the way forward through military and diplomatic means.
• Apart from this, he also expressed commitment to maintain peace on the ground in the border areas.

Length of border between India and China:

• India and China share a border of about 4057 km. India's border with China connects to five states. These include Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
• A stretch of 1954 km in Jammu and Kashmir is connected to the border with China.
• The two countries share a border in a 1080 km stretch of Arunachal Pradesh.
• An area of 463 km in Uttarakhand and 345 km in Himachal Pradesh is connected to the border with China.
• Only 220 km of border with China is connected to Sikkim.

Border dispute between India and China:

• Relations between the two countries have gone through several cycles of conflict and cooperation for the last 75 years.
• But the most serious incidents of conflict were seen in Galwan Valley of Ladakh in the year 2020 and in Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh in the year 2022.
• Observers on both sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) agree that the number of serious military confrontations has increased since 2013.
• The border between the two countries is not clearly demarcated throughout its entire length. There is also no mutual agreement on the Line of Actual Control in some parts.
• LAC came into existence after the India-China war of 1962. The border between both the countries is divided into three sectors/areas.
  • Eastern Region: Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim
  • Central region: Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
  • Western Region: Ladakh
• The growing power gap between the two countries has made it difficult for India to build any rapprochement without giving any indication of capitulating to China. It is noteworthy that China's GDP is five times more than that of India.
• Infrastructure construction, especially in Tibet, has given rise to a security dilemma for India. In this, military relations reach a critical stage where one or both sides may be driven to war. Which will be inauspicious for both the countries as well as the world order.