Jaishankar, Chinese FM Wang Yi discuss border disengagement progress at G20 Summit

New Delhi, Nov 19: External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

The discussions marked another attempt by the two neighbouring countries to stabilise their improving relations further and assess the progress made in recent disengagement to improve bilateral relations.

Dr. Jaishankar, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said “On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio, met CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi of China. We noted the progress in the recent disengagement in the India-China border areas. And exchanged views on the next steps in our bilateral ties. Also discussed the global situation.”

The earlier standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh has been a source of tension between India and China since mid-2020.

The situation escalated in June 2020 when a violent clash in the Galwan Valley resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four or more Chinese troops. This was the most severe border conflict between the two nations in over four decades, leading to the deterioration of diplomatic and economic ties.

In response, both nations deployed thousands of troops and wheeled in heavy artillery, tanks, and fighter jets, to the rugged mountainous region, transforming the LAC into a tense, heavily militarised zone. For the next four years, a series of military and diplomatic engagements attempted to de-escalate the situation, with mixed success.

However, recent months have seen a breakthrough in disengagement efforts. In a coordinated move, frontline troops from both sides have been pulled back from several friction points, in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

This withdrawal of troops, aimed at restoring the pre-2020 status quo, followed extensive negotiations at various levels, including military commanders’ meetings and diplomatic talks. The current thaw began to take shape earlier this year, as both sides expressed a willingness to move towards de-escalation. During the BRICS Summit held in South Africa in August 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping for their first bilateral meeting in five years.

The leaders agreed on maintaining peace along the border and directed their respective officials to expedite disengagement.

This directive led to a series of talks, disengagement of troops, withdrawal of the logistics from the front line and joint patrolling of the area back to the pre-June situation.

The agreement aimed at easing the tense standoff in Eastern Ladakh and set the stage for further diplomatic engagements. The recent meeting between Dr. Jaishankar and Wang Yi is a continuation of this dialogue, as both sides seek to build on the momentum of the disengagement process.