The standoff between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, ongoing since 2020, has officially come to an end. After India’s announcement, China also confirmed the development on Tuesday. China stated that both sides have reached a mutual agreement to resolve the military standoff at the LAC.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “India and China have maintained close contact through diplomatic and military channels regarding border-related issues.” He added, “Both sides have now reached a solution on relevant matters, which China highly appreciates.” Jian also mentioned that China is ready to work with India to implement these agreements, though he declined to provide further details. When asked about the possibility of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, he responded, “If anything comes up, we will keep you informed.”
On Monday, India announced that negotiators from both countries had agreed on a pact regarding patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. This agreement is being seen as a major breakthrough in resolving the military standoff, which has persisted for more than four years.
The India-China standoff at the LAC in Ladakh had escalated following the deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, which severely strained bilateral relations. This confrontation was one of the most intense military clashes between the two nations in decades.
India announced that both Indian and Chinese negotiators had reached an agreement regarding patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. This agreement marks a significant step forward in resolving the military tensions that have been ongoing for more than four years.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that Indian and Chinese troops can once again resume patrolling in the same manner as before the confrontation started, and the process of troop disengagement has been completed on both sides.
