NEW DELHI: Days after defence minister Rajnath Singh urged China to act on the ground and follow a structured roadmap to resolve the long-standing border tensions , Beijing has responded with a familiar line: the boundary issue is “complicated” and will “take time” to resolve.
In its first official reaction to Singh’s June 26 meeting with Chinese defence minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the SCO defence ministers’ Conclave in Qingdao, China’s foreign ministry reiterated its position that the border problem cannot be solved quickly.
“The boundary question is complicated, and it takes time to settle it,” said spokesperson Mao Ning in Beijing on Monday, while highlighting the importance of continuing talks through established channels like the Special Representatives (SRs) mechanism, reported PTI.
Patience, not promises
Mao acknowledged the existence of diplomatic and military communication mechanisms, including the 2005 agreement on political parameters for a final settlement. “China stands ready to maintain communication with India on issues including delimitation negotiation and border management,” she said.
However, she made no direct commitment to Singh’s proposal for a structured de-escalation process or action to address the “trust deficit” that India says remains unresolved since the 2020 Ladakh standoff.
Singh calls for roadmap, action on the ground
In his bilateral with Dong, Singh emphasized the need for “good neighbourly conditions” and called on China to take tangible steps along the LAC to ease tensions. According to the Indian readout, Singh also discussed the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan, adding a broader regional security dimension to the talks.
Talks continue, but resolution remains elusive
Despite 23 rounds of SR-level talks, the latest held in December 2024 between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a comprehensive resolution remains out of reach. While some disengagement steps have been implemented, including in friction points in eastern Ladakh, the boundary remains undefined, and tensions periodically resurface.
Mao’s remarks underline a consistent Chinese position: don’t expect quick fixes. For now, both sides are focusing on managing tensions rather than resolving them. As Singh noted, without visible progress on the ground, structured dialogues alone may not be enough to rebuild trust.
In its first official reaction to Singh’s June 26 meeting with Chinese defence minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the SCO defence ministers’ Conclave in Qingdao, China’s foreign ministry reiterated its position that the border problem cannot be solved quickly.
“The boundary question is complicated, and it takes time to settle it,” said spokesperson Mao Ning in Beijing on Monday, while highlighting the importance of continuing talks through established channels like the Special Representatives (SRs) mechanism, reported PTI.
Patience, not promises
Mao acknowledged the existence of diplomatic and military communication mechanisms, including the 2005 agreement on political parameters for a final settlement. “China stands ready to maintain communication with India on issues including delimitation negotiation and border management,” she said.
However, she made no direct commitment to Singh’s proposal for a structured de-escalation process or action to address the “trust deficit” that India says remains unresolved since the 2020 Ladakh standoff.
Singh calls for roadmap, action on the ground
In his bilateral with Dong, Singh emphasized the need for “good neighbourly conditions” and called on China to take tangible steps along the LAC to ease tensions. According to the Indian readout, Singh also discussed the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan, adding a broader regional security dimension to the talks.
Talks continue, but resolution remains elusive
Despite 23 rounds of SR-level talks, the latest held in December 2024 between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a comprehensive resolution remains out of reach. While some disengagement steps have been implemented, including in friction points in eastern Ladakh, the boundary remains undefined, and tensions periodically resurface.
Mao’s remarks underline a consistent Chinese position: don’t expect quick fixes. For now, both sides are focusing on managing tensions rather than resolving them. As Singh noted, without visible progress on the ground, structured dialogues alone may not be enough to rebuild trust.
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