International RelationsImportant2024-11-01

Resumption of India-China Border Patrolling

In News

What Happened

Following a breakthrough diplomatic and military agreement in late October 2024, the Indian and Chinese armies successfully resumed coordinated patrolling at the Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh by November 1, 2024. Troops dismantled temporary military structures and withdrew to their respective pre-April 2020 positions. The de-escalation was symbolically marked by the exchange of sweets between the two militaries along several border points during Diwali.

Why It Matters

This development marks a critical milestone in resolving the intense four-year military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). By restoring India's access to strategic traditional patrolling limits, it essentially restores the pre-2020 status quo in these sectors and lays the groundwork for the broader normalization of Sino-Indian diplomatic and economic relations.

Background

History & Context

The standoff began in May 2020, severely deteriorating bilateral ties and leading to the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June 2020. Over subsequent years, multiple rounds of Corps Commander-level talks achieved phased disengagement and the creation of 'buffer zones' in friction areas like Pangong Tso, Gogra, and Hot Springs. However, the Depsang Bulge and Demchok's Charding Nullah Junction remained heavily contested stand-offs. The October 2024 agreement, finalized just before the BRICS Summit in Kazan, provided the breakthrough required to resolve these final friction points.

What Changed

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BEFORE: Indian troops were physically blocked by Chinese forces from accessing traditional Patrolling Points (PPs 10, 11, 11A, 12, 13) in the strategically vital Depsang Plains. NOW: Coordinated patrolling has officially resumed, restoring unrestricted access for Indian forces to these traditional limits.
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BEFORE: Heavily armed troops and temporary military structures were entrenched in close proximity at the Demchok and Depsang friction points. NOW: Both militaries have completely dismantled temporary structures and mutually withdrawn troops to their pre-April 2020 base locations.
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BEFORE: De-escalation relied strictly on 'no-patrol buffer zones' where neither side could enter, pausing ground friction but severely limiting India's LAC claims. NOW: The new agreement replaces these zones with scheduled, coordinated patrolling protocols designed to prevent physical face-offs and rebuild tactical trust.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This event directly connects to Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 (Contemporary Centres of Power), specifically the section on Sino-Indian relations. It illustrates the complex dynamic where persistent border disputes and overlapping territorial claims act as a primary barrier to establishing a stable multipolar Asian order, despite shared platforms like BRICS.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the India-China border disengagement in 2024? 1. The October 2024 agreement primarily focused on establishing new buffer zones in the Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso regions. 2. The agreement facilitated the resumption of coordinated patrolling at traditional Patrolling Points in the Depsang Plains.

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