China starts Military disengagement at LAC; India keeps watchful eye

"Our bilateral relations have withstood tests and made hard-won progress. The right and wrong of what recently happened at the Galwan Valley in the western sector of the China-India boundary is very clear. China will continue firmly safeguarding our territorial sovereignty as well as peace and tranquility in the border areas. As Wang Yi stressed, for both China and India, achieving development and revitalization is the top priority where we share long-term strategic interests. Both sides should adhere to the strategic assessment that instead of posing threats," - Chinese foreign ministry


New Delhi: In tune with the Government of India's firm stance that status quo ante must be restored in all areas of eastern Ladakh, the Chinese Army -  PLA - has reportedly moved back from the patrolling point 14.

Though taken as initial and baby steps and first signs of de-escalation of tension in eastern Ladakh, however, sources say things may be too early to suggest any 'end' or scaling down of the recent tension between two Asian powers.

"Indian army at our end is monitoring the situation with caution....as while they have moved back; the Chinese heavy armoured vehicles were still present in-depth areas in Galwan river area," a source said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited forward areas near Ladakh on July 3 giving a booster to the armed forces. His visit had given a clear message to China.

The latest development vis-a-vis withdrawal of Chinese forces also coincides with reports that the US has deployed two aircraft carriers in South China Sea.

First signs of Chinese withdrawal came from Galwan and Pangong Tso areas.

The Chinese side has significantly enhanced its presence, particularly in areas between Finger 4 and Finger 8

Sources say, NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister, State Councillor and Special Representative on the Sino-Indian Boundary Issue Wang Yi spoke to each other over phone and helped the process of withdrawal of Chinese forces from the LAC.

An MEA statement said: "The two Special Representatives (Doval and Wang Yi) agreed that both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders (PM Modi and President Xi Jinping) that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas was essential for the further development of bilateral relations and that two sides "should not allow differences to become disputes".

"Therefore, they agreed that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquillity. In this regard they further agreed that both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously," the statement said.

A statement from Chinese foreign ministry said: "Our bilateral relations have withstood tests and made hard-won progress. The right and wrong of what recently happened at the Galwan Valley in the western sector of the China-India boundary is very clear. China will continue firmly safeguarding our territorial sovereignty as well as peace and tranquility in the border areas". 

It further said - "As Wang Yi stressed, for both China and India, achieving development and revitalization is the top priority where we share long-term strategic interests. Both sides should adhere to the strategic assessment that instead of posing threats, the two countries provide each other with development opportunities". 

The Chinese statement also said: "Both sides should pay great attention to the current complex situation facing China-India bilateral relations, and work together to overcome and turn it around as soon as possible."

On June 30, the Indian and Chinese armies held the third round of Lt General-level talks during which both sides agreed on an "expeditious, phased and step wise" de-escalation as a "priority" to end the standoff

The first round of the Lt General talks were held on June 6 during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all the standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley

The Chinese Army has moved back tents, vehicles and troops by about 2  km from locations where
disengagement was agreed upon.
Sources said India has sent out a decisive message that national security is paramount.

Sources further said India has been insisting on 'restoration' of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh to restore peace and tranquillity and the issue of 'disengagement' had figured at the Corps Commander level talks.

The Chinese Army has moved back from the patrolling point 14 -- the location had emerged as a key hotspot in the ongoing dispute after Chinese troops had moved ahead of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan region.

Indian army lost 20 soldiers in the conflict on June 15.

Sources said a 'buffer zone' has been created (or will be created) between the Indian and Chinese troops.

There will be substantial withdrawal of Indian troops also from the border line, sources said.

Indian forces have lately enhanced its deployment along the LAC and matched presence with bunkers and even a few temporary structures.

Both the armies stood “eyeball to eyeball”, sources said.

The 'retreat' by PLA if fructifies without any enhanced tension or conflict yet again, it would be seen as a major diplomatic and strategic win for the Modi government after the fresh clash wherein 20 Indian soldiers attained martyrdom and there were over 40 casualty in the Chinese side.

However, it is altogether a different chapter that the Chinese government has not officially admitted about the deaths of its soldiers.

The US move to deploy two aircraft carriers in South China Sea has its own significance.

"The US drills (South China Sea) are a mere show to make up for its loss of face regarding epidemic control, and indicated it knows it has lost its Hong Kong card following China's national security legislation, forcing it to shift focus to the South China Sea and Taiwan to contain China," said a write up in 'Global Times'.

Full statement from Chinese Foreign Ministry on July 6


Wang Yi Speaks on the Phone and Reaches Positive Agreement on Easing Border Situation with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval
2020/07/06
On the evening of July 5, the Chinese Special Representative of the China-India Boundary Question, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the phone with the Indian Special Representative, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Wang Yi noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and India. Our bilateral relations have withstood tests and made hard-won progress. The right and wrong of what recently happened at the Galwan Valley in the western sector of the China-India boundary is very clear. China will continue firmly safeguarding our territorial sovereignty as well as peace and tranquility in the border areas. As Wang Yi stressed, for both China and India, achieving development and revitalization is the top priority where we share long-term strategic interests. Both sides should adhere to the strategic assessment that instead of posing threats, the two countries provide each other with development opportunities. Both sides should pay great attention to the current complex situation facing China-India bilateral relations, and work together to overcome and turn it around as soon as possible. We hope India can work with China to guide public opinion in the right direction, keep and advance bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and avoid amplifying the differences and complicating matters so as to jointly uphold the big picture of China-India relations.

Both sides had candid and in-depth discussions over easing the current border situation and reached positive common understandings.

First, both sides agreed to follow the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries. Both believed that maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas matters significantly to the long-term development of bilateral relationship, that the boundary question should be placed properly in the bilateral relations, and that an escalation from differences to disputes should be avoided.

Second, both sides reiterated adherence to the agreements signed by the two countries and making joint efforts to ease the situation in the border areas.

Third, both sides agreed to strengthen communication through the mechanism of the Special Representatives' Meeting, hold Meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs without interruption, consistently improve and strengthen confidence-building measures and prevent more incidents that undermine peace and tranquility in the border areas.

Fourth, both sides welcomed the progress achieved in the recent military and diplomatic meetings, agreed to stay in dialogue and consultation, and stressed the importance to promptly act on the consensus reached in the commander-level talks between Chinese and Indian border troops, and complete disengagement of the front-line troops as soon as possible.
MEA statement in Delhi:


Conversation between Special Representatives of India and China on recent developments on the India-China border areas
July 06, 2020

The Special Representatives of India and China on the Boundary Question - Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor of India and H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China had a telephone conversation on 5th July 2020. The two Special Representatives had a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas.

The two Special Representatives agreed that both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas was essential for the further development of our bilateral relations and that two sides should not allow differences to become disputes.

Therefore, they agreed that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquillity. In this regard they further agreed that both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously. 

The two sides should also ensure a phased and stepwise de-escalation in the India-China border areas. They re-affirmed that both sides should strictly respect and observe the line of actual control and should not take any unilateral action to alter the status quo and work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquillity in border areas.

The two Special Representatives agreed that the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides should continue their discussions, including under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), and implement the understandings reached in a timely manner to achieve the above outcomes. It was also agreed that the two Special Representatives will continue their conversations to ensure full and enduring restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols.