India, China take first steps toward easing border tensions

New Delhi, Oct 28: The four-year-old long-standing tensions between China and India over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have seen a recent relief, a thaw towards easing borders, with both nations committing to a phased disengagement at key friction points, such as Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh.

The Global Times, a prominent Chinese state media outlet, also seen as a mouthpiece of the ruling government responded to India’s announcement with measured words: “China and India share a common desire to deescalate the situation, and a warming relationship benefits both countries. What is most needed now is to back promises up with real actions instead of deliberately releasing a certain kind of signal.”

This response according to the political observers seems a little hard suggesting that while Beijing is interested in advancing ties, it remains sceptical of what it perceives as signals possibly aimed more at domestic or strategic audiences than at actual cooperation.

In another editorial, Global Times commented on the wider strategic implications of the agreement, emphasising that “not easy” has become a defining phrase for this bilateral relationship. The commentary highlighted that this resolution represents a step toward regional stability, remarking, “The significance of the resolutions is revealed precisely because it is not easy.” This sentiment underlines that the road ahead is fraught with challenges, both in managing the military presence along the LAC and in balancing the broader geopolitical shifts within Asia.

The BRICS summit held earlier this month in Russia provided a pivotal platform for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping to engage in a substantial dialogue, which is notable for being their first in five years and seen as quite positive.

Their meeting highlights a growing shift as emerging economies seek to redefine global alignments. For India, which has positioned itself as a leader of the Global South, the balance involves careful diplomacy while cautiously engaging with China for economic and security benefits.

However, the constraints on both nations remain strong. China has to assure India that its increased presence in the Indian Ocean and broader Indo-Pacific does not threaten or interfere in Indian affairs as the Indian Ocean is a natural part. Also on mountainous borders peace and tranquillity of the past are regained. Equally for India, the issue is the continued trust deficit, exacerbated by surprise periodic clashes along the LAC, salami slicing amid long-standing regional frictions.

Sustaining this momentum will require a “step-by-step” approach to de-escalation, as Jaishankar noted, especially given the historic mistrust and strategic caution on both sides. Both Beijing and New Delhi will need to navigate a careful balance between cooperation and competition, a dynamic that could define Asia’s political landscape in the years ahead.

Minister S. Jaishankar emphasised in Mumbai on Sunday while talking to media persons that this initial agreement is merely the first step in a broader path toward restoring a stable, trust-based relationship.

Speaking at a press conference, Jaishankar noted, “It is obvious it will take time to implement the same. This is the issue of disengagement and patrolling which meant our armies had come very close to each other and now they have gone back to their bases. We hope the 2020 status is restored.” He underscored that while disengagement is foundational, de-escalation “will not happen until India is sure that the same is happening on the other side as well.”This cautious approach to normalisation reflects both countries’ deep-seated concerns.

In the words of Jaishankar, “After de-escalation, how to manage the borders will be discussed.” This remark encapsulates the unresolved complexities of China-India relations: both sides recognise the imperative of stability, yet acknowledge that mutual trust will not materialise overnight.

The journey toward normalisation is, in effect, a delicate pathway, journey, one that will require persistent diplomacy and slow progress as has happened in the past four years that talks through professionals, both military and civilians continued despite friction and non-agreement between the two countries.

It needs experienced professionals to continue dialogue with caution and diplomacy with thoughtfulness and politicians need to desist in commenting for the sake of giving muscle to the current disengagement process followed by gaining more trust in resolving the pending issues between the two countries.