India and China are opening the door to clarify the perception of LAK

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. File | Photo credit: PTI

India and China discussed ways to improve mutual understanding of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the 25th round of Special Representatives’ meeting on the border issue held in Beijing on Tuesday (25 Aug 2026).

Indian and Chinese officials see different perceptions of the LAC in some areas as a key factor in tensions in the western and eastern sectors.

The eight-point outcome document released on Wednesday (26 August), a day after talks between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, acknowledged those concerns. It said the two sides “discussed ways to improve understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas, for better border management”.

In a joint statement of understanding, the two sides agreed that “any situation on the ground will be promptly addressed through existing diplomatic and military channels, including the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC), meetings at the level of local commanders and other agreed mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations within the LAC.”

Another key outcome said the border demarcation expert group would “advance discussions on an early and substantial border demarcation harvest”. This process, which would start with both sides agreeing to terms of reference, is expected to focus on sectors where there are no significant differences in alignment.

India has long sought clarification of the LAC to reduce the likelihood of incidents between patrols in areas where claims overlap. The 1996 Confidence Building Measures Agreement pointed to the need for the two sides to “reach a common understanding on the harmonization of the LAC” and stated that both sides “agree to expedite the process of clarifying and confirming the LAC”.

The two sides then agreed to exchange maps showing their perceptions of the overall layout of the LAC. To this end, maps were exchanged in the middle sector a few years later, but the process ran aground when it came to the western sector in light of sharp differences, and was subsequently abandoned in the western and eastern sectors.

During his first visit to China as Prime Minister in 2015, Narendra Modi came out publicly to revive the LAC clarification process. That did not happen, with Chinese officials saying the process of clarifying rapprochement with the LAC would further complicate attempts to resolve the border dispute.

However, the tension in eastern Ladakh beginning in April 2020, which represents the most serious breach of peace in LAC since 1962, has sharply underscored the need to address differences in mutual alignment, particularly in the western sector. In the eastern sector of Arunachal Pradesh too, earlier this month, different views on alignment with the LAC were mentioned.

The two sides have informally addressed the issue to some extent at the ground level in multiple rounds of senior supreme military commanders (SHMC) talks. Following the disengagement from the sticking points in Ladakh, both sides worked out ways to help keep the peace, such as no patrolling zones and coordinated patrolling in contested areas. Neither side has disclosed details of the procedures they follow.

The resulting document avoided any reference to clarification, and given the disputed history of the term, a resumption of the process planned in 1996 remains unlikely. However, the two special representatives politically supported the need to “enhance the understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas”, opening the door for both sides to at least begin the process of better understanding the other’s perception.

Published – 27 Aug 2026 22:57 IST