Lok Sabha Question No. 604 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Discussion on India China Border
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.604 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## DISCUSSION ON INDIA CHINA BORDER

604. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has started any bilateral discussion with China about recent tension on Indo -China border;
- (b) if so, the details in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to start dialogue with China Government to reduce tension on border area; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRYOF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a)   to   (d)         From   April-May   this   year,   there   has   been   an   enhanced deployment of troops and armaments by the Chinese side in the border areas and along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector. Since   mid-May   the   Chinese   side   attempted   to   transgress   the   LAC   in several areas of the Western Sector of the India-China border area. These attempts were invariably met with an appropriate response from us.

To address the issues arising from such attempts, the two sides engaged in discussions through the established military and diplomatic channels. A meeting of the Senior Commanders took place on 6   June 2020 and   the   two   sides   had   agreed   on   a   process   for   disengagement. Subsequently, ground commanders had a series of meetings to implement the  consensus   reached   at   a   higher   level.   However,   the   Chinese   side departed from this consensus to respect the LAC and tried to unilaterally change the status quo, as a result of which a violent face-off happened in the late evening and night of 15   June 2020. Both sides suffered casualties that   could   have   been   avoided   had   the   agreement   at   the   Senior Commanders level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side.

After the violent faceoff at Galwan valley, the two sides continued their engagements to comprehensively address the issues arising due to these developments. The Senior Military Commanders of India and China have further held four meetings thereafter on 22 June, 30 June, 14 July and 2 August 2020. The two sides have also had four meetings of the Working   Mechanism   for   Consultation   and   Coordination   on   India-China border affairs (WMCC) on 24 June, 10 July, 24 July and 20 August 2020.

Separately, immediately after the incident in Galwan valley, External Affairs Minister had spoken to Foreign Minister of China, on 17 June 2020. Subsequently   the   Special   Representatives   of   India   and   China   on   the

Boundary Question also had a telephone conversation on 5 July 2020. It was agreed that both sides should work towards complete disengagement at the earliest and de-escalation in the India-China border areas so as to restore full peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

Raksha Mantri met his Chinese counterpart on 4 September 2020 in Moscow. Raksha Mantri conveyed that  the two sides should resolve the ongoing situation and outstanding issues in the border areas peacefully through dialogue.

External   Affairs   Minister   met   Foreign   Minister   of   China   on   10 September 2020 in Moscow. Both Ministers had in -depth discussions on the   developments   in   the   India -China   border   areas   and   reached   an agreement on the following five points:

(i) Both sides should take guidance from the series of consensus of the leaders   on   developing   India-China   relations,   including   not   allowing differences to become disputes.

(ii) The current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should   continue   their   dialogue,   quickly   disengage,   maintain   proper distance and ease tensions.

(iii) Both sides shall abide by all the existing agreements and protocol on China-India boundary affairs, maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas and avoid any action that could escalate matters.

(iv) Continue to have dialogue and communication through the Special Representative mechanism on the India-China boundary question. They also agreed in this context that the Working Mechanism for Consultation and   Coordination   on   India-China   Border   Affairs   (WMCC)   should   also continue its meetings.

(v) As  the   situation   eases,   the   two   sides   should   expedite   work   to conclude new Confidence Building Measures to maintain and enhance peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

Accordingly, it is expected that the two sides will continue to have meetings of military and diplomatic officials to implement the agreements reached between the two Foreign Ministers and ensure full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas.

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