China on Monday described the border dispute with India as “complicated” and said the process of resolving it would take time, even as it claimed to be open to dialogue on delimitation and management.
Responding to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent call for concrete de-escalation steps along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position that the matter cannot be settled quickly.
“The boundary question is complicated, and it takes time to settle it,” Mao told reporters at a briefing in Beijing.
Beijing avoids roadmap, refers to past mechanisms
The remarks come days after Singh met his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the SCO defence ministers' meeting in Qingdao.
Singh had urged China to restore “good neighbourly conditions” along the LAC and flagged the “trust deficit” created by the prolonged border standoff since 2020.
While Mao did not address those concerns directly, she emphasised the need for continued communication through existing channels.
“China stands ready to maintain communication with India on issues including delimitation negotiation and border management,” she said, also citing the 2005 agreement on political parameters as a basis for future discussions.
India’s statement on the meeting had also referenced the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, broadening the security conversation beyond the LAC.
Little movement despite 23 rounds of talks
India and China have held 23 rounds of Special Representatives-level talks, the latest in December 2024 between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
While the two sides have agreed to disengage at some friction points in eastern Ladakh, much of the boundary remains undefined and sensitive.
Mao’s comments reflect Beijing’s familiar stance: maintain dialogue but offer no timeline for resolution.
(With inputs from PTI)
Responding to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent call for concrete de-escalation steps along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position that the matter cannot be settled quickly.
“The boundary question is complicated, and it takes time to settle it,” Mao told reporters at a briefing in Beijing.
Beijing avoids roadmap, refers to past mechanisms
The remarks come days after Singh met his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the SCO defence ministers' meeting in Qingdao.
Singh had urged China to restore “good neighbourly conditions” along the LAC and flagged the “trust deficit” created by the prolonged border standoff since 2020.
While Mao did not address those concerns directly, she emphasised the need for continued communication through existing channels.
“China stands ready to maintain communication with India on issues including delimitation negotiation and border management,” she said, also citing the 2005 agreement on political parameters as a basis for future discussions.
India’s statement on the meeting had also referenced the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, broadening the security conversation beyond the LAC.
Little movement despite 23 rounds of talks
India and China have held 23 rounds of Special Representatives-level talks, the latest in December 2024 between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
While the two sides have agreed to disengage at some friction points in eastern Ladakh, much of the boundary remains undefined and sensitive.
Mao’s comments reflect Beijing’s familiar stance: maintain dialogue but offer no timeline for resolution.
(With inputs from PTI)
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