International
oi-Ashish Rana
The possibility of another meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in December comes amid fresh concerns over the situation along the India-China border. Reports of military face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh have raised questions about the improvement in ties following their talks in New Delhi last month.
Fresh military face-offs along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh have been reported, raising concerns ahead of a potential December meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Miami.
Fresh Face-Offs Reported Along Arunachal Border
Outgoing Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) chief Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor recently revealed that Indian and Chinese soldiers continued to face off at several locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh.
The disclosure has raised concerns about China’s border strategy and its activities along the disputed boundary. It has also challenged the perception that diplomatic engagement between the two countries had brought lasting calm to the border areas.
Concerns Over China’s ‘Salami-Slice’ Tactic
The reported incidents have drawn attention to China’s alleged use of the “salami-slice” tactic, which involves making small, gradual changes to the ground situation to expand control over disputed areas.
Such developments remain a major concern for India, as both countries continue to deal with unresolved territorial disputes along the LAC.
MEA Responds To Border Situation
Following Kapoor’s remarks, the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the situation in border areas became disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces moved away from “established patrolling patterns”.
The statement highlights the continuing challenges faced by both sides in managing tensions along the disputed frontier, despite diplomatic efforts to improve bilateral relations.
Will Modi And Xi Meet In December?
Despite the latest border concerns, Modi may meet Xi again on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Miami, Florida, on December 14 or 15. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to host the gathering.
If the meeting takes place, it could provide another opportunity for the two leaders to discuss bilateral ties and border-related concerns. However, the reported face-offs underline the gap between diplomatic engagement and the situation on the ground.
