New Delhi: After military disengagement from eastern Ladakh, India and China are set to engage in a political dialogue led by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and China’s state council and foreign minister Wang Yi. The two are also Special Representative appointees, who hold a detailed dialogue to resolve the border row between the two Himalayan neighbours.
The backchannel talks between the special representatives have ensured that no side will unilaterally alter the status quo along the 3,488 km long LAC and the status quo ante will be restored on all points. Doval and Wang had a video conference on June 7, 2020, and have kept in touch, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar holding the diplomatic end of conversations with Beijing.
It is understood that the Indian side has made it clear that it will stand up to any use of force but is willing to discuss and build a positive atmosphere for sorting out all outstanding issues related to the LAC.
“We have conveyed that the two sides can sit together and work their way towards resolving differences in perception over the LAC after China has created positivity by restoring status quo ante on Pangong Tso. There can be no dialogue if PLA uses force but if China can persuade that India is wrong or vice versa on border perception, then the two sides can mutually adjust to the perception line,” said a senior official.
Official sources said that it has been made clear from the Indian side that there can be no dialogue if the Chinese Army, or the PLA, uses force. According to national security planners, it is up to China to create a positive environment for advancing bilateral relations. Relations between India and China gained momentum following the withdrawal of forces from Pangong Tso. Analysts say that there is an expectation in India that full normalisation of ties after full disengagement can follow.