Kazan, 24th October 2024: Four years after a violent clash between Chinese and Indian soldiers along a contested Himalayan border, the leaders of both nations have finally convened for formal discussions.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Wednesday during the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit in Russia. This meeting followed an announcement that both sides had agreed on “disengagement and resolution of issues in these areas.”
During their meeting, Modi and Xi expressed their support for this progress and committed to renewing dialogue between their countries. They also agreed to set a prompt date for a meeting among their senior officials to address outstanding issues.
India-China relations have been strained for decades due to a poorly defined 3,440 km (2,100-mile) border. The ever-changing landscape of rivers, lakes, and snowcaps often leads to soldiers encountering one another, occasionally resulting in confrontations.
The two nations fought a war in 1962, during which India suffered significant losses. Since then, multiple skirmishes have occurred.
Tensions escalated in 2019 when India revoked Article 370 of its constitution, stripping away the special autonomy previously granted to Indian-administered Kashmir. China condemned this action at the UN Security Council, as Kashmir includes the high-altitude Ladakh region, parts of which China claims.
The clash in Galwan Valley in 2020 marked the most severe confrontation in decades, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops.
Later that year, both countries withdrew troops from some disputed border areas and pledged to de-escalate tensions, although the situation remained fraught. Additional clashes occurred in northern Sikkim in 2021 and in the Tawang sector in 2022.
The military standoff also impacted economic relations, as India increased scrutiny of Chinese investments and banned several popular Chinese apps, including TikTok. Direct passenger flights to China were also halted.
Wednesday’s meeting was the first formal engagement between Modi and Xi since October 2019, although they had a brief encounter at the G20 summit in Bali in 2022. Following that meeting, China announced a “consensus” had been reached to restore bilateral relations.
The two leaders also informally met during the 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg, where they agreed to strengthen efforts for disengagement and de-escalation, as reported by Reuters.
Earlier in the same year, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan, agreeing to enhance discussions.
Last month, Jaishankar noted that around 75% of the “disengagement” at the border had been addressed. Shortly thereafter, civil aviation authorities from both countries discussed the potential resumption of direct flights.
Media outlets, including Bloomberg, have reported that Indian businesses are pressing the government to relax restrictions on China, arguing that these measures are detrimental to India’s high-end manufacturing sector, including chipmaking. However, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized caution regarding any easing of restrictions on Chinese companies.
On Monday, Jaishankar announced that both nations had agreed to resume border patrols and revert to the conditions that existed before the 2020 clash, declaring that the disengagement process with China had been finalized.
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated that both countries are now focused on rebuilding trust. He emphasized that this would occur once both sides can ensure they are not encroaching on established buffer zones.
China’s foreign ministry did not provide specific details about the agreement but confirmed that the two nations had “reached resolutions on relevant issues.” Spokesperson Lin Jian remarked that China appreciates the progress and is committed to collaborating with India to implement these resolutions effectively.
Modi and Xi have indicated that their special representatives will convene to explore a fair and mutually acceptable solution to the border dispute, as stated by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. They also mentioned that their respective ministers and officials will work to stabilize and enhance bilateral relations.
The leaders discussed the significance of maintaining positive ties, with PM Modi asserting that their relationship is essential for global peace. He emphasized that preserving peace and stability along the border should remain a top priority, advocating for mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity as the foundation of their relations.
The BRICS summit saw participation from leaders of 36 countries, who discussed ways to reduce the Global South’s reliance on the dollar for trade. The event also featured the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
President Xi remarked to Modi that the international community is closely observing their meeting, stating that Delhi and Beijing must serve as an example for fostering unity among developing nations and promoting multipolarity and democracy in international relations. He added that China and India, as ancient civilizations and significant developing countries, are both at pivotal stages in their modernization efforts.