The armies of India and China are scheduled to hold their first Corps Commander-level talks in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday, with the meeting set to take place at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
According to sources cited by news agency ANI, the meeting is aimed at addressing the issues between the two sides in the area. The talks will be held at the Wacha border meeting point on the Indian side.
The Indian side will be represented by three Corps Commanders. The Indian Army has two Corps formations responsible for the LAC with China in Arunachal Pradesh – the Tezpur-based 4 Corps and the Rangapahar-based 3 Corps.
First Corps Commander-Level Talks In Arunachal Pradesh
The Wacha meeting marks the first time that Corps Commander-level talks between the Indian
and Chinese armies are being held in Arunachal Pradesh.
There are five Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points along the India-China LAC, with two located in Arunachal Pradesh. Wacha is one of the two BPM points in the state.
ANI sources said the Indian Army has taken a very firm stance in dealing with the position taken by Chinese troops in the area where issues are currently going on.
India and China have different perceptions of the LAC in their respective territories. At times, these differing perceptions have resulted in issues on the ground.
The two sides have so far been holding Corps Commander-level meetings to address LAC-related issues at the Chusul-Moldo border meeting point in the Ladakh sector.
These meetings assumed significance after the Galwan clashes in 2020, in which both sides suffered major casualties.
Talks Follow Ajit Doval’s China Visit
The latest military-level engagement comes after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited China. Following his visit, India and China announced a number of measures aimed at maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC.
PTI reported that Doval had held talks in Beijing with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi under the framework of the Special Representatives dialogue. The discussions focused on delimitation of the frontier and sustaining work on trans-boundary cooperation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is also anticipated to visit India for the upcoming BRICS summit scheduled for September 12-13.
The developments have also been welcomed by former Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan (retd).
Speaking on Saturday at a lecture on ‘Threats and Challenges to India’s Security’ at an event hosted at the Teen Murti Bhawan complex, Gen Chauhan referred to reports about the likely establishment of hotlines as well as Corps Commander-level talks in the Northeast and described them as “a welcome development”.
Anil Chauhan Calls China Long-Term Challenge
Gen Chauhan said China presents India with an “absolutely different and more long-term and comprehensive challenge”.
“The boundary issue remains unresolved, and there’s no mutually agreed definition even on the Line of Actual Control. Differences in perception, combined with infrastructure development and forward military presence, create the possibility of friction and escalation,” he said, according to PTI.
He stressed that border stability requires “vigilance, credible capabilities, clear agreements and consistent adherence to them”.
At the same time, the former CDS said India’s relationship with China cannot be viewed only through the prism of the boundary issue.
The two countries are major Asian powers, large economies and civilisational states, he said, adding that they cooperate and compete while holding differing views on regional and global order.
“The relationship between the two countries cannot be held hostage to only boundary issues,” Gen Chauhan said.
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