Opinion Express View: Breaking the ice with China
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's Beijing visit signals a thaw in India-China ties. Security dilemmas, however, remain
Both sides are expected to engage in dialogue over trans-border rivers and share hydrological data 
-
Share -
-
-
The talks in Beijing between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and senior Chinese officials including Foreign Minister Wang Yi are a welcome step in the ongoing normalisation of India-China relations, especially as both countries mark 75 years of diplomatic ties this year.
The broader context of Misri’s Beijing visit, however, lies in the four-year-long disengagement process which concluded in November last year with the patrolling agreement for Demchok and Depsang — two friction points following China’s incursions into eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020. The Chinese military’s actions were a direct violation of the confidence-building measures in place at the time, with the crisis escalating into the Galwan Valley clashes which led to the first fatalities on the India-China border since 1975. For the past four years, discussions between the two sides have largely been limited to military issues at the border. This time, however, the talks centred around “people-centric steps”.
Direct flights between India and China had been suspended in the early stages of the Covid pandemic and remained halted after Galwan. Both countries have now agreed to resume direct flights and facilitate the issuance of visas. The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra is also set to resume. Both sides are expected to engage in dialogue over trans-border rivers and share hydrological data. The talks underlined the importance of restoring mutual trust.
Despite these encouraging developments, the prospects for genuine mutual understanding remain uncertain, given the continued large-scale troop deployment by both countries for the fifth consecutive year. India has maintained that “disengagement” should be followed by “de-escalation” and, ultimately, the “de-induction” of the additional forces in eastern Ladakh. The latest disengagement agreements notwithstanding, the “de-escalation” process is yet to commence.
Ultimately, India seeks the withdrawal of Chinese troops to their peacetime positions. Another key issue is trade. India continues to face a significant trade deficit with China, which has now surpassed $100 billion, despite efforts to restrict Chinese imports. There are reports of Chinese authorities clamping down on exports of crucial manufacturing equipment, seemingly to impede the growth of global companies in India. Delhi, therefore, should not be complacent on the China question after the latest round of talks. It is a step forward, but many more steps remain.
Share
