Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Hold Talks to Ease Border Tensions
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in “candid and in-depth” discussions aimed at reducing tensions along their disputed border, according to Beijing’s announcement on Friday (Aug 25). This meeting took place during a rare face-to-face encounter between the two leaders while attending the BRICS summit in South Africa.
The relationship between the two most populous nations in the world has been strained since a fatal clash along their Himalayan border in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops. Since then, tens of thousands of troops have been deployed along both sides of the border, despite 19 rounds of talks between senior military officials from both countries.
During their meeting, President Xi emphasized the importance of enhancing China-India relations for the benefit of both nations and their peoples. He urged both sides to prioritize the overall interests of their bilateral relationship and effectively address the border issue to collectively preserve peace.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted the unresolved matters along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which separates India’s Himalayan region of Ladakh from Chinese territory. He underlined the significance of observing and respecting the LAC as a crucial step toward normalizing India-China relations.
The contentious border issues have been a longstanding source of tension between the two countries. China claims sovereignty over India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which it considers part of Tibet. Furthermore, a 1962 border war took place in India’s state of Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the historical tensions between the two Asian giants.
The deadly 2020 clash along the Tibet-Ladakh border led to a marked deterioration in relations. In response, the Indian government invested significant funds in connectivity projects along its side of the border to enhance civilian presence and establish new paramilitary units. Additionally, India has sought to strengthen its ties with Western nations, including fellow Quad members—the United States, Japan, and Australia—presenting itself as an alternative partner to China.
Despite numerous attempts, including the most recent military talks earlier in the month, the border disputes between Beijing and New Delhi remain unresolved. This recent face-to-face meeting between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi marks their first direct encounter since a brief interaction at the G20 Summit in Bali in November of the previous year.
