Optimism for India-China Relations

I see optimism. The fourth breakthrough has been achieved between India and China! 

The two countries confirmed that the process of disengagement from a friction point in the western Himalaya in Ladakh has begun, breaking more than a year-long deadlock in peace talks to resolve the border dispute. 

Their defence ministries announced in a joint statement two Thursdays ago that withdrawal of troops, armaments and dismantling of temporary structures have begun in a “coordinated and planned way” by Indian and Chinese troops. The move was “conducive to the peace and tranquillity in the border areas”, the statement said. 

The latest round in the ongoing series of peace talks between two Asian giants is centred in the area of Gogra-Hot springs, Patrolling Point 15, in the western Himalayan region of contested Ladakh, where troops from both countries have been locked in a standoff for more than two years. 

The two countries previously disengaged from Patrol Point 14 in Galwan Valley in 2020, Pangong Tso in 2021 and in Gogra (PP-17A) in August last year. However, the dispute is far from resolved as friction points Demchok and Depsang remain unresolved. 

Indian English-language daily newspaper Hindustan Times claimed on September 08 that despite four rounds of disengagement, the two armies still have around 60,000 troops each and advanced weaponry deployed in the Ladakh theatre. 

That's as maybe but I believe political wisdom will prevail. It must.

Surely we know the peace process is a long and winding road – but both India and China must travel together to secure a permanent peace. 

After all, Albert Camus, French novelist, essayist, and playwright did say “Peace is the only battle worth waging”. Hear, hear!