'Border Dispute' India-China Military Authorities Confirm Differences Despite Negotiations

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] India and China, which are engaged in a border dispute, held military talks to discuss ways to ease tensions but failed to make progress, only reaffirming their differences.

According to foreign media including AP News on the 11th, India and China held the 13th round of military talks regarding the border area dispute the previous day, but concluded without any significant results.

The Indian Ministry of Defense criticized China for unilaterally attempting to change the situation and provoking confrontation in a statement released that day. The Ministry said, "We made constructive proposals during the talks to resolve issues in the remaining disputed areas, but the Chinese side did not agree and did not offer any forward-looking proposals, so no progress was made."

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Chinese Western Command blamed India, saying, "India continued to make unreasonable and unrealistic demands, making negotiations more difficult." The spokesperson added that they hope India does not misjudge the situation and cooperates with China to maintain peace.

India and China have not officially demarcated their border and are facing off along the LAC. They fought a war in the Himalayas in 1962 but quickly ended the localized conflict due to concerns over intervention by the United States and the Soviet Union, and have since remained in a standoff.

Indian and Chinese troops have clashed repeatedly in the Ladakh region, including the brawl at Pangong Lake in May last year, the "baton clash" in the Galwan Valley in June, and the use of firearms for the first time in 45 years in September, worsening tensions. After over 20 Indian soldiers died in the Galwan Valley "baton clash," India procured weapons and permanently banned Chinese smartphone apps such as TikTok and WeChat.

Since then, both sides have held several military talks to ease tensions, and in February this year, they completed troop withdrawals near Pangong Lake. Military forces were also withdrawn near the Galwan Valley. However, as negotiations have stalled for a long time, both sides are reportedly reinforcing troops and weapons in the border area again, leading to localized confrontations.