CHINA-INDIA: STATEMENTS ISSUED BY INDIAN AND CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRIES AFTER 23RD WMCC MEETING DIFFER NOTICEABLY
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The South China Morning Post (November 19) quoted the Chinese foreign ministry as saying that during a virtual meeting of the 23rd Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Sino-Indian Border Affairs, senior officials from the two neighbours also agreed to continue communication through diplomatic and military channels for another round of commander-level talks aimed at agreeing a full disengagement. It said the two sides would “continue their efforts to promote further de-escalation of the border situation and strive to move from emergency management to regular control as soon as possible”. The full text of the statements, which differed noticeably in content, are: The MEA said that: The “two sides had candid and in-depth discussions on the situation along the LAC in Western Sector of India-China Border Areas and also reviewed the developments since the last meeting of the Senior Commanders of both sides which was held on 10th October 2021. In this regard they agreed on the need to find an early resolution to the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols so as to restore peace and tranquility. The two sides also agreed that both sides should in the interim also continue to ensure a stable ground situation and avoid any untoward incident. It was agreed that both sides should hold the next (14th) round of the Senior Commanders meeting at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement from all the friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols. The China’s Foreign Ministry said that: The two sides said that in accordance with the spirit of the consensus reached by the two foreign ministers in their meeting in Dushanbe, they will continue to further ease the situation in the border area and strive to switch from emergency response to normalized management and control as soon as possible. The two sides had candid and in-depth exchanges of views on the recent situation in the China-India border area. They agreed to consolidate the existing disengagement outcomes, strictly abide by the agreements and consensus reached between the two sides, and avoid flare-ups in the situation on the ground. The two sides agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through diplomatic and military channels, actively prepare for the 14th round of military commander-level talks, and make efforts to resolve the remaining issues in the western section of the China-India border. |