Next India-China WMCC talks to be held soon: MEA

The next India-China meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) “is expected to take place soon'', said spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Anurag Srivastava at his weekly briefing on Thursday. The last meeting was held virtually on June 24, soon after the violent clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley. In the meanwhile, there are likely to be talks at various levels, militarily and diplomatically, on the issue.

The WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for management of the border between the two countries and also to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation, including between border security personnel. WMCC talks are held at the joint secretary level.

The Special Representatives of India and China, namely Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, had a conversation on July 5 “for a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the developments in the western sector of the border.''

Srivastava also hit out at the “inaccurate and uninformed comments about the disengagement process and its implications''. He said that over the last few weeks, the government had made several statements spelling out its position on different aspects of the current situation on the western sector of the India-China border area. 

“They include our position that recent Chinese claims to the Galwan Valley are exaggerated and untenable, that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) must be strictly respected and observed as this is the basis for peace and tranquility in the border areas; and that either side should not take any unilateral action to alter it,'' said Srivastava. China has claimed that the entire Galwan Valley belongs to China.

The matter is going to be a long drawn out one even as the militaries have started their first steps towards de-escalation and decided upon a buffer zone. Diplomatic and military officials will continue their meetings to take forward the process of disengagement and deescalation, as agreed to by the SRs, said the MEA.

The SRs had “shared the view”' that peace and tranquility in the border areas was essential to the overall development of bilateral relations, said the MEA. It added that the SRs had also shared the view that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation on the India China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquility in accordance with bilateral agreements and protocols.

Srivastava explained that a key provision of these agreements is the commitment that the two sides respect and observe the LAC.