Why in news?

• Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with China’s Defence Minister General Li Shangfu.
  • China's Defence Minister is in New Delhi to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers conference.
  • This is the first visit by a Chinese defence minister to India after the eastern Ladakh border standoff began in May 2020.
• Indian Defence Minister told his visiting Chinese counterpart that Beijing’s violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations.

What’s in today’s article?

• Border agreements with India that were violated by China
• News Summary

Border agreements with India that were violated by China

• About
  • China through its military action at Galwan in Ladakh violated three key bilateral agreements -- 1993, 1996 and 2013.
  • These agreements have been central to maintaining peace and tranquillity on the disputed Line of Actual Control.
  • Until the Galwan clash in 2020, not a single soldier had been killed on either side of the LAC for over four decades.
• The 1993 agreement between India and China
  • It declared: Neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other by any means. No activities of either side shall overstep the line of actual control.
  • It also stated, in case personnel of one side cross the line of actual control, upon being cautioned by the other side, they shall immediately pull back to their own side of the line of actual control.
    • China has not done that either in Galwan or Pangong Tso.
    • On the contrary, it has built structures and stationed its troops in a face-off like situation despite cautionary warnings.
• 1996 agreement on border disputes and maintenance of peace
  • As per article VI of the Agreement, the two countries are not to open fire within two kilometers from the line of actual control.
  • This had been stipulated to prevent dangerous military activities and does not apply to routine firing activities in small arms firing ranges.
    • This is what led to a practice, where troops on both sides, never brandished weapons at each other and at most.
    • They often indulged in a physical jostle.
  • It was this agreement of 1996 which also set the rules on military exercises.
  • It makes clear that the strategic direction of the main force in an exercise shall not be towards the other side.
    • The Chinese PLA carried out its summer exercises opposite Ladakh which clearly were aimed at threatening India.
• The 2013 India-China Border Defence Cooperation Agreement
  • Through this agreement, the two sides agree that they shall not follow or tail patrols of the other side in areas where there is no common understanding of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
  • Here again, the violence in Galwan raises doubts whether Chinese troops followed this protocol.
  • Chinese manoeuvres of the past two weeks have had the Indian side quite worried on this count.

News Summary: India-China Defence Ministers’ Meet

Indian stand during the meeting

• All issues at the LAC need to be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments.
• Indian Minister conveyed that after disengagement at the LAC, there should be movement towards de-escalation.
• India categorically conveyed that development of relations between India and China is premised on prevalence of peace and tranquillity at the borders.