First visit in 2 yrs since face-off in eastern Ladakh

In a major development amid ongoing tension at the border in Ladakh, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is likely to visit New Delhi later this month.  This will be the first visit by any Chinese Minister since the face-off began between the armies of the two countries at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) nearly two years ago.

Wang Yi is likely to hold talks on March 24 or 25 with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.

At present, more than 50,000 troops each of India and China are facing each other at some friction points at the LAC in eastern Ladakh.  Both sides have held a series of diplomatic and military level talks since the stand-off began in May 2020 leading to a bloody brawl in June. 

Twenty Indian soldiers, including the commanding officer, were killed.  Nearly 40 Chinese soldiers reportedly died in the clash.  Beijing is yet to confirm the exact number of casualties.

Against this backdrop, the Chinese Minister’s visit is an indication of a thaw in the tension between the two countries, sources said here on Wednesday. 

While the situation at the LAC will obviously top the agenda, the two countries may also hold parleys on Quad.  China has all along protested against this grouping comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia to ensure peace and stability in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region, they said. The two Ministers may also take stock of the situation arising from the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

The proposal for Wang Yi’s visit came from China, sources said, adding he will arrive here after a visit to Nepal.  He is also likely to tour Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, it was learned.

Elaborating upon the significance of the visit, sources said, so far both sides are engaged in parleys at the diplomatic and military levels.  The 15th round of Corps Commanders of the two armies was held on March 11. 

The two countries agreed to continue the process of dialogue to find ways for early disengagement of troops from the friction points in Eastern Ladakh. Jaishankar and Wang Yi had met in person in September 2020 and September 2021. 

While the first meeting was on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Moscow, the second meeting took place in Dushanbe.  The two leaders discussed the roadmap for reducing tension and speedy disengagement of troops from the stand-off sites.

Ever since the LAC standoff began, the top leadership of India and China have participated in several virtual meetings of groupings such as the SCO and BRICS comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.  However, there were rare one-on-one or bilateral meetings between India and China in the last two years.

The talks at various levels have seen the withdrawal of troops from the north and east banks of the Pangong Tso (lake) in Ladakh in February last year.  Since then, the parleys failed to yield any tangible results and the two leaders are likely to focus on it, sources said.  India wants a quick disengagement on remaining friction points such as Patrolling Point 15 (Hot Springs), Depsang Bulge, and Demchok.

Jaishankar has repeatedly reiterated peace and tranquility on the LAC is essential for the restoration of bilateral ties. The Chinese side has y contended that the border issue should be delinked from the overall bilateral relationship.

India has also maintained that restoration of status quo ante as prevailing before May 2020 at the LAC is a prerequisite for normalisation of ties between the two countries.   It means complete disengagement and de-escalation from all the friction points.

Incidentally, days before the announcement of the 15th round of talks,  the Chinese Foreign Minister had admitted in Beijing early last week that the ties between India and China have seen some setbacks.  

Jaishankar last month had said India-China ties were going through a “very difficult phase” after Beijing violated agreements that were signed not to bring military forces to the border and maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC.

Wang Yi had said differences over the disputed boundary and “recent setbacks” in relations should not impact overall ties between the two countries.

“China, India relations have encountered some setbacks in recent years which don’t serve the fundamental interests of two countries and the two peoples,” Wang Yi said.