In an address to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s spelt out the developments that determine “The contemporary phase of our ties with China.”
“Our ties have been abnormal since 2020, when peace and tranquillity in the border areas were disturbed as a result of Chinese actions. Recent developments that reflect our continuous diplomatic engagements since then have set our ties in the direction of some improvement,” he said.
After noting China’s” illegal occupation of 38,000 Sq. km of Indian territory in Aksai Chin as a result of the 1962 conflict” he pointed out that “While there is a Line of Actual Control (LAC), it does not have a common understanding in some areas. We remain committed to engaging with China through bilateral discussions to arrive at a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for boundary settlement.”
Here’s a timeline of the events from the Galwan clashes of 2020 and the subsequent events which led to the disengagement and revival of talks to restore ‘normalcy’ along the border, culled from his statement.
Galwan and After (2020–2024)
2020:
1. April/May:
o China amasses troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
o Indian forces counter-deploy amidst significant logistical challenges.
2. June:
o Violent clashes in Galwan Valley result in casualties on both sides—the first fatalities at the border in 45 years.
o Deployment of heavy weaponry in close proximity to the LAC ensues.
3. September 10:
o India and China hold a Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Moscow.
o Agreement is reached to disengage troops and avoid further clashes.
2021:
1. February:
o Disengagement agreement reached for North and South banks of Pangong Lake.
o Troops return to their respective bases.
2. August:
o Third phase of disengagement occurs in Gogra.
2022:
1. September:
o Agreement achieved for disengagement at Hot Springs.
o Both sides withdraw troops in a phased and verified manner.
2024:
1. July 4 and July 25:
o Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar discusses disengagement and broader relations with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Astana and Vientiane.
2. September 12:
o National Security Advisors from India and China meet in St. Petersburg to address specific issues at Depsang and Demchok.
3. October 21:
o Agreement reached for disengagement in Depsang and Demchok, marking the conclusion of disengagement efforts.
(“In a few other places where friction occurred in 2020, steps of a temporary and limited nature were worked out, based on local conditions, to obviate the possibility of further friction,” Dr Jaishankar said.
o Resumption of patrolling activities and grazing in traditional areas begins.
4. October 23:
o Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, discussing stabilization of bilateral ties.
5. November 18:
o Foreign Ministers meet at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro to assess progress on disengagement and border de-escalation.
6. November 20:
o Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh meets his Chinese counterpart at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane to discuss confidence-building measures and de-escalation.
The Special Representatives On the Boundary Question are expected to meet soon in the next step towards normalisatio
All this involved multiple rounds of discussions, including 17 rounds of Working Mechanism for Cooperation and Coordination meetings at the diplomatic level, and 21 rounds of Senior Highest Military Commanders meeting (SHMC) to resolve issues.
Dr Jaishankar also noted that significant improvements were made to support Indian defence capabilities, including tunnels and strategic road networks, including “the Atal Tunnel to Lahul Spiti, the Sela and Nechiphu Tunnels to Tawang, the Umlingla Pass road in Southern Ladakh and the extended opening of the Zojila Axis. Work is progressing on some strategically important roads and air fields in Ladakh. The adoption of new technologies in high altitude, remote, inaccessible and permafrost areas has also been significant.”
Looking ahead, he said the focus has shifted towards de-escalation and rebuilding broader bilateral ties while ensuring border stability.
“The conclusion of the disengagement phase now allows us to consider other aspects of our bilateral engagement in a calibrated manner, keeping our national security interests first and foremost,” Dr Jaishankar concluded.
