NEW DELHI: China’s statement on Monday said it will continue to work with India to properly manage differences is likely to be put to test later this week at the meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).
On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian had said China will continue to work with India to enhance political mutual trust, properly manage differences, strengthen practical cooperation and “jointly uphold the big picture of bilateral relations”.
Sources said so far the Chinese troops have disengaged and moved back from Galwan Valley and Hot Springs. The meeting could see India pressing for the vacation of Chinese troops from Pangong Tso Finger areas, Depsang and Gogra.
Sources said this move is in line with the two Special Representatives (SRs) of India and China agreeing that early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for the smooth overall development of bilateral relations.
Several meetings of WMCC and also of Senior Commanders have already taken place to discuss the implementation of the ongoing disengagement process and further steps to complete it at the earliest.
Last week, the MEA had said both sides have agreement on broad principles of disengagement and based on it, “some progress” had been made. Translating these principles on ground is a complex process that requires re-deployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC. “It is natural that this can be done only through mutually agreed reciprocal actions,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said on August 14.
India has been making the point that restoration of pre-Covid status quo is necessary and essential in the context of overall development of the bilateral relationship. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also underlined this aspect by stating that “the state of the border and the future of our ties cannot be separated”.
The agreement to disengage from several friction points along LAC in eastern Ladakh was agreed upon in a two-hour conversation between the two SRs on July 5, about 20 days after the Galwan Valley clash.