India-China Agreement: Patrolling to Resume in Depsang, Demchok After 4 Years of Standoff

India and China have reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) after a series of diplomatic and military-level discussions. The deliberations took place over the course of a week and primarily focused on critical points like Depsang, Demchok, and other border areas. These areas had previously been sources of contention. In 2020 these issues lead to a military standoff, and thereafter came to be known as legacy issues.

After a series of meetings, both countries’ military and diplomatic leaderships have arrived at a consensus on patrolling in the two strategic areas. This comes as a significant development after the 2020 military standoff in Eastern Ladakh.

Crucial Timing of Agreement

China had previously refused to include these areas in talks, which makes this breakthrough a significant development. Since both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet at the BRICS Conference, this step towards resolving border issues comes at a crucial time.

Source: telegraphindia.com

Ongoing Effort

The Ministry of Defense communicated that Corps Commander-level talks were held between the two countries in February, along with a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in August this year. Indicating that regular deliberations and meetings were held by both sides, the agreement provides a positive channel to build upon for addressing contentious issues in the future.

Key Points

While the details and framework of the agreement are yet to be finalized, both countries have agreed on patrolling arrangements, particularly for Depsang and Demchok. India has more than five patrol points in this region; however, the agreement is not limited to these points.

On-ground implementation will require coordination from both sides. This agreement follows a series of significant events. Two years ago, patrolling was suspended in the Finger Area and at Galwan’s PP14.  Along with the buffer zones, patrolling is expected to resume in these areas.

Strategic Importance

In 2020, India and China engaged in border disputes, leading to a military standoff in Eastern Ladakh. The resolution of two strategic points is a welcome step towards normalcy. While the Depsang Plains are strategic to India due to their connectivity to the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) airstrip and the Darbuk-Shyok-DBO road, the Demchok region is divided by the LAC and has historically been marked by confusion. Due to differing interpretations of treaties, China claims the western part of the region, which is currently controlled by India.

The latest agreement will not cause an immediate troop pullback; however, it is expected to lead to a significant improvement in both countries’ longstanding border issues.