In News:

India and China recently held the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in Beijing. The discussions focused on maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and advancing efforts towards the normalisation of bilateral relations.

Key Highlights of the WMCC Meeting

The meeting served as an important diplomatic platform to address ongoing border-related issues and strengthen coordination mechanisms between the two countries.

• Focus Areas of Discussion:
  • Border delimitation and clarification of the LAC.
  • Border management and confidence-building measures.
  • Mechanism building for sustained dialogue.
  • Cross-border cooperation initiatives.
• Peace and Stability:Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress made in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC, recognising that stability at the border is essential for improving overall bilateral relations.
• Trans-border Rivers Mechanism:India emphasised the need for an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers, highlighting its strategic and ecological importance, particularly in the context of water sharing and data exchange.
• Special Representatives (SR) Talks:Both countries agreed to actively prepare for the 25th round of Special Representatives (SR) talks on the boundary question, which will be hosted in China.

India-China Border: An Overview

India shares a 3,488 km-long border with China, spanning multiple states and union territories:

• Ladakh: 1,597 km
• Himachal Pradesh: 200 km
• Uttarakhand: 345 km
• Sikkim: 220 km
• Arunachal Pradesh: 1,126 km

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) emerged after the 1962 India-China War and functions as the de facto boundary between the two countries.

• India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while China estimates it at approximately 2,000 km.
• The boundary remains undemarcated, and efforts to clarify and confirm its alignment are ongoing.
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is the primary force responsible for guarding the India-China border.

Sectors of the India-China Border

• The India-China border is divided into three sectors, each with distinct geographical and historical characteristics: