In this image from the video, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian speaks during a Defense Ministry press conference held in Beijing on Thursday (November 28, 2024).
| Photo Credit: AP

Stating that the Armies of India and China are implementing the settlement reached between the two countries for disengagement and resumption of patrolling at Demchok and Depsang in eastern Ladakh, the Chinese Defence Ministry said on Thursday (November 28, 2024) that they were making “great progress.”

Defence sources in the know said the frequency of patrolling would be a maximum of one Patrolling Point (PP) a week by each side in Depsang and Demchok. Talks are continuing between the two sides for the resumption of patrolling at the other five friction points where buffer zones are in place following disengagement.

Last week, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun in Laos on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus. The meeting came in the backdrop of the disengagement and the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

“We also look forward to harmonious dance between the Chinese dragon and Indian Elephant with concerted steps,” Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Sr Col Wu Qian said at the monthly media briefing in Beijing.

‘Positive meeting’

On the meeting between the two leaders, he said they had a “positive and constructive” meeting and agreed to implement the important consensus reached between the top leaders and promote stable relations between the two countries. “Now, we are making great progress,” Sr Col Wu said.

During the meeting, Mr. Singh called for reflecting on the lessons learnt from the unfortunate border clashes of 2020, “take measures to prevent recurrence of such events and safeguard peace and tranquillity along the India-China border” and both sides agreed to work together towards a road map for rebuilding mutual trust and understanding.

The spokesperson said the two militaries should strictly abide by the recent common understandings reached by the two sides to de-escalate tensions at the border areas, make efforts to bring down the tensions and focus on enhancing mutual trust and exchanges between the two countries. “We hope the two sides can seize the opportunity and build new momentum to make new progress in the military-to-military relations,” he added.

The two sides have since completed disengagement from Depsang and Demchok, the last two remaining friction points of the 2020 stand-off, and have resumed coordinated patrolling. On November 4, the Indian Army announced that it had patrolled one of the five patrolling points in Depsang, PP 10 and shortly after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army too resumed patrolling.

Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at the Hot Springs area in Eastern Ladakh on Thursday (October 31, 2024).
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Troops of India and China exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday (October 31, 2024),” Army sources said.

The traditional practice was observed a day after both countries completed the disengagement at two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh, bringing a fresh thaw in the Sino-Indian ties.

“The exchange of sweets between members of the troops of India and China took place at several border points along the LAC on the occasion of Diwali,” an Army source told PTI.

“The exchange took place at five Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points along the LAC,” the sources added.

On Wednesday (October 30, 2024), an Army source said that troops of both sides had completed the disengagement at the two friction points and patrolling would commence soon at these points.

“The verification process after the disengagement was in progress and patrolling modalities were to be decided between ground commanders,” the source said then.

“Talks will continue at the local commander level,” the Army source added.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on October 21 in Delhi that an agreement was finalised between India and China following negotiations over the past several weeks and that it would lead to a resolution of the issues that arose in 2020.

The agreement was firmed up on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff.