On March 27, 2024, China and India held the 29th Meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC). Statements issued by both sides highlighted the perspective on resolution of the standoff on the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, thus any hopes of a positive accomodation at the next India China Senior Commanders Meeting is unlikely.
Director-General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Hong Liang and Joint Secretary of the East Asia Division of Ministry of External Affairs of India Gourangalal Das co-chaired the Meeting. Representatives from the foreign affairs, defense, immigration and other departments of the two countries attended the meeting.
The statements issued by both sides are indicative of the substantial chasm that continues to exist on the main factor that is affecting India China ties – non adherence to existence agreements on management of the boundary peacefully and upsetting the existing status quo by the People’s Liberation Army.
While the Chinese statement was generic in nature, Indian side highlighted that the objective of the talks was to achieve disengagement by the PLA in the Western Sector of India China border.
Chinese Statement read, “Both sides positively evaluated the progress made in the management and control of the situation in the China-India border area, and had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the ideas of work for the next stage. The two sides agreed to focus on the relevant issues on the ground along the border, reach a solution acceptable to both sides as soon as possible, and promote the transition of the border situation into a normalized phase of control and management”.
“Both sides agreed to continue to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels, improve the mechanism for negotiation and consultation, and hold a new round of corps commander-level talks at an early date. The two sides agreed to strictly abide by the agreements and guiding principles of the relevant common understandings reached between the two sides, avoid flare-ups in the situation on the ground, and continue to consolidate the previous disengagement outcomes, in a bid to safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area,” as per the Chinese statement.
The Indian Statement on the other hand emphasized that “The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to achieve complete disengagement and resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas”.
The tone and tenor of the statements indicates that there is unlikely to any breakthrough on the points raised by India for disengagement on the LAC.