India, China Set Up New Group To Break Border Deadlock With 'Early Harvest' Plan

India and China have agreed to set up an “expert group” to explore an “early harvest” approach to boundary delimitation in disputed sectors, signalling a potential shift in New Delhi’s negotiating stance.

The announcement, made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday (19 August), comes as the two Asian powers seek to reset ties strained by military tensions and geopolitical rivalry.

The early harvest model would allow both sides to first address less contentious boundary sectors, particularly in the Sikkim and Himachal, while leaving more difficult disputes, like those in Arunachal and Eastern Ladakh, for later.

This marks a departure from India’s earlier insistence on a comprehensive settlement of the border issue instead of partial agreements.

Experts say the move reflects a pragmatic effort to stabilise relations with Beijing, at a time when both countries face growing trade and security friction with the US.

The Sino-India border remains unsettled despite decades of negotiations. While deep mistrust is likely to persist, prioritising incremental solutions could open limited avenues for de-escalation, analysts said.

Officials in New Delhi caution, however, that progress will be slow and dependent on China’s willingness to honour past agreements, which it disregarded in 2020, leading to a prolonged stand-off along the Line of Actual Control.