A fresh round of corps commander talks between India and China, less than a fortnight after a clash in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh injured 15-20 Indian soldiers, remained inconclusive.
A brief statement from India’s defence ministry on Thursday was again silent on the restoration of status quo ante along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. Nor did it say whether the Indian side had taken up the Tawang clash in the latest round of talks.
The statement said the 17th round of military talks had taken place on December 20, and the two sides had “exchanged views on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the western sector in an open and constructive manner”.
“They held a frank and in-depth discussion, keeping in line with the guidance provided by the State Leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest which would help in restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC...” it added.
“In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the western sector. The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.”
The Chinese embassy in India released a similar statement. The previous round of military talks had been held on July 17.
Military veterans have for months questioned India’s continued silence on the restoration of the status quo as it was before the Chinese intrusions in Ladakh in May 2020. They have accused the Narendra Modi government of ceding further territory by agreeing to the creation of demilitarised “buffer zones” within India-claimed lines as part of the disengagement process with the Chinese.
“The recent statements by the defence ministry have not mentioned any demand or agreement for the restoration of status quo ante as of April 2020,” a former lieutenant general told The Telegraph.
“Instead, they have been saying that both sides have been working towards the restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC. Restoring peace and tranquillity does not mean restoring status quo ante.”
Another veteran said that anything other than returning to status quo ante worked in China’s favour. “This is what China wants. India’s failure to demand restoration of the preApril 2020 status quo suggests it has accepted the new status quo created by the Chinese troops,” he said.
Chinese troops have so far disengaged partially from the Galwan Valley, Pangong Lake, Hot Springs and Gogra — with Indian soldiers too retreating by equal distances to create the buffer zones.
The Chinese have refused to disengage from the strategic Depsang Plains, where they are estimated to be entrenched 18km inside India-claimed lines.