Removal of a large shelter that has been visible since the standoff days in the Depsang area near Patrol Point 10 came as the biggest confirmation of the initial disengagement.
India-China Disengagement at Key Border Points
Newly emerged changes
Just a few days after the introduction of a new patrol agreement with China, recently acquired satellite images from Maxar Technologies in the US validated the initial withdrawal efforts in Depsang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh.
India recently made a significant advancement in resolving the military conflict by reaching a patrolling agreement with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
During the sidelines of BRICS Summit 2024 in Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting represented their initial bilateral meeting since 2019
The latest satellite images
A noticeable decrease in buildings at various sites sparked optimism for a resolution to the main conflict between India and China. Images from Friday also showcased the removal of structures and shelters that had occurred in the days prior.
Dismantling a significant shelter, present since the days of the standoff in the Depsang region near Patrol Point 10, was the most significant proof of the initial disengagement.
A perspective from another spot in Depsang also showed that the majority of buildings at a military base were taken away. A comparison to a previous photo of the same spot verified the deletion.
The Sino-India conflict in 2020
In May 2020, a significant Sino-India border dispute began that later turned into a violent confrontation in Galwan Valley in June, resulting in multiple casualties among both sides.
Multiple military discussions have been conducted to address the ongoing political conflict between the two neighboring countries, focusing on repositioning troops and making partial withdrawals.
Indian forces have been confined near the ‘Y Junction’ in Depsang since the beginning of the standoff, blocking their movement to patrolling points (PPs) 10 to 13 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) claimed by India.
Depsang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh remained unresolved for a lengthy period. As per External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Indian and Chinese troops can now go back to patrolling as they did before.
Similarly, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri mentioned that the patrolling and grazing actions would bring back the situation to how it was before 2020, with the existing disengagement agreements staying the same.
China–India relations
The border between China and India runs through the Himalayas, with Nepal and Bhutan serving as buffer countries. India claims and administers Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, while Pakistan administers Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, and the People’s Republic of China administers Aksai Chin, all parts of the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan’s government depicts Aksai Chin on its maps as largely belonging to China and marks the border as “Frontier Undefined”, whereas India argues that the PRC has unlawfully taken control of Aksai Chin. China and India both have conflicting claims over the majority of Arunachal Pradesh.
China’s policy towards India is influenced by both increased competition with the United States and underlying structural issues in India-China relations that worsen tensions. These mainly arise from China’s efforts to maintain a distance from India in the Indo-Pacific area. India and China have contrasting preferences for the regional order in Asia – India wants a multipolar system where it is a key player, while China desires a unipolar system where India has no significant role.
While India improves its security relations with the US and plays a key role in organizing the Global South, ongoing tensions with China continue. China’s involvement with countries surrounding India and increased military partnership with Pakistan continue to add pressure to India’s geopolitical environment. In this unpredictable environment, Sino-Indian interactions try to maintain a careful equilibrium between practical economic interests and increasing geopolitical tensions.
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