NSA Ajit Doval To Visit Beijing To Discuss 'China-India Boundary Question' After Reflecting On Border Standoff

Just under two weeks after India and China conducted formal discussions in New Delhi subsequent to troop withdrawal at two contentious locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, their Special Representatives are scheduled for a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday (18 December).

The dialogue for India is represented by the Special Representative, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. On the other hand, the Chinese side is led in the discussions by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Indian Express reported.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, announced in Beijing that the "23rd meeting of Special Representatives for China-India boundary question", as agreed upon by both nations, will take place in Beijing on 18 December.

Following the official-level discussions between New Delhi and Beijing — the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs — which took place in Delhi on 5 December, both sides reviewed the insights gained from the border standoff. They mutually agreed on the importance of effective border management and maintaining peace and tranquility.

The first WMCC meeting between high-ranking officials took place following the border patrolling agreement on 21 October. This was subsequently followed by a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which occurred on the fringes of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on 23 October.

After the WMCC discussions, the MEA stated, "They also made preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Special Representatives, scheduled in line with the decision made by the two leaders during their meeting in Kazan on 23 October." The choice to rejuvenate the dialogue mechanism was decided during the meeting between Modi and Xi.

After more than four and a half years of border standoff, the two nations have successfully concluded the disengagement process. The attention has now shifted towards de-escalation and subsequent demilitarisation of forces along the India-China border.