Jaishankar meets Wang Yi, says LAC must be respected
- Since April-May 2020, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China has crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC), occupying Indian territory.
- The Indian government has been cautious in addressing the China issue.
Why in News?
- During the 15th BRICS Summit, the Indian PM and Chinese President agreed to intensify efforts for disengagement and de-escalation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
- Attention is now on the plans being devised by military commanders for troop pullback.
What is the Line of Actual Control (LAC)?
- Separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
- Divided into three sectors: eastern (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh), and western (Ladakh).
- India claims LAC is 3,488 km long; China claims around 2,000 km.
- India’s official boundary (Survey of India) includes Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan.
LAC vs Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan:
- LoC established post-1948 ceasefire, formalized in 1972 under the Shimla Agreement.
- LAC is not internationally recognized or demarcated, unlike the LoC.
Disagreement over the LAC:
- Major disagreements in the western sector, stemming from 1959 Chinese PM Zhou Enlai’s letters to PM Nehru.
- India rejected China’s 1959 and 1962 LAC claims post-1962 War.
- Doklam crisis (2017) highlighted China’s assertion of the "1959 LAC."
Controversy in Ladakh:
- Aksai Chin was not part of British India; boundary undefined in western Ladakh.
Current Arrangement:
- India accepted LAC conceptually in 1993.
- Signed Agreement to Maintain Peace and Tranquility at LAC.
- Joint Working Group tasked to clarify LAC alignment.
Plans for De-escalation in Eastern Ladakh:
- Details of troop withdrawal and disengagement phases under discussion since 2020.
- Corps Commanders dialogue resulted in limited disengagement and creation of buffer zones.
Legacy Issues:
- Depsang Plains and Demchok issues predate 2020 incursions.
- PLA incursion in Depsang Plains (2013) near Daulat Beg Oldie unresolved.
- Demchok issues at ChardingNinglung Nullah (CNN) junction persist.
Prelims Takeaway
- LAC