India and China have finalized a deal to resume patrolling along their disputed border, effectively ending a four-year military stand-off, according to Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. This agreement paves the way for improving political and economic relations between the two Asian giants.
The announcement comes just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for the BRICS summit from October 22-24, where he may meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to Indian officials.
Disengagement After Deadly Clashes
Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have been tense since a violent clash in 2020 along the undemarcated border in the western Himalayas. The incident resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. Since then, both sides halted patrols at several key points along the border in the Ladakh region to avoid further conflicts, while each moved tens of thousands of troops and military equipment to the region.
“We have reached an agreement on patrolling, returning to the pre-2020 status quo, and we can now say the disengagement process is complete,” Jaishankar said during a media conclave. He emphasized that restoring peace at the border was essential for broader relations to move forward.
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Agreed Patrolling Schedule to Avoid Clashes
To prevent future confrontations, both militaries will patrol disputed areas according to an agreed schedule, according to a senior Indian military officer. Regular monitoring and review meetings will be conducted to ensure compliance with the agreement and avoid violations in the contested Ladakh region.
Although China has not yet responded to the announcement, officials in New Delhi said the agreement clears the way for a possible bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. This would mark their first meeting since the border clashes in 2020.
Confidence-Building and Trade Impact
Both sides will also pull back troops slightly from their current positions to minimize the risk of face-offs. Retired senior Indian army officer Deependra Singh Hooda, who previously commanded forces along the China border, acknowledged that further confidence-building measures are necessary.
The four-year standoff had strained business ties between the two nations, with India tightening its scrutiny of Chinese investments and halting major projects. This increased regulatory barriers for Chinese firms like BYD and Great Wall Motor, discouraging billions of dollars in potential investment.
However, despite the tensions, India’s imports from China have surged by 56% since the 2020 clashes, nearly doubling its trade deficit with China to $85 billion. China remains India’s largest supplier of industrial goods.
When asked about the impact of the new agreement on trade and investment, Jaishankar said: “It has just happened. There will be meetings to discuss next steps. I wouldn’t jump to conclusions just yet.”
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