India & China hold 20th WMCC meeting amid LAC faceoff, hint at 'stability on the ground'

Amid LAC faceoff, 20th meeting of  Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) took place on December 18. developments along Line of Actual Control were reviewed and both sides agreed to work towards ensuring complete disengment as per agreements reached between respective Foreign Ministers and Special Representatives. Moreover, y ackwledged that 7th and 8th round of military commander-level talks h contributed to ensuring "stability on ground".

On this occasion, y consented to maintain close consultations at diplomatic and military level. On this occasion, two sides also agreed that next round of senior military commanders should be held at an early date so that peace and stability can be fully restored in region. While MEA's Joint Secretary (East Asia) led Indian delegation, Chinese side was represented by  Director-General of Department of Boundary & Oceanic Affairs of country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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LAC faceoff

 faceoff at Line of Actual Control was exacerbated when 21 Indian Army soldiers including a Commanding Officer were martyred in Galwan Valley on June 15 when de-escalation process was underway. This was followed by multiple attempts of provocation by Chinese side at end of August. Multiple rounds of military commander-level and WMCC meetings have taken place between two sides to resolve crisis. 

On December 11,  MEA me it clear that China h exacerbated situation by trying to unilaterally change status of LAC. MEA official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava maintained that China h violated bilateral agreements on ensuring peace and tranquility in border areas. In a veiled jibe at neighbouring country, Srivastava urged China to match its verbal commitments to peace with requisite actions. 

MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava remarked, " core issue remains that both sides need to strictly follow various bilateral agreements and protocols in ir entirety including 1993 and 1996 agreement on maintenance of peace and tranquility along LAC in border areas which require that re should t be amassing of troops, each side should strictly abide by and respect LAC and should t take any unilateral action to alter it. We have taken te of Chinese side's statement that it observes strictly agreement between two sides and is committed to resolving border issue and through dialogue and safeguarding border areas. We expect Chinese side will match words with actions."

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