75% of LAC Disengagement Issues Resolved: EAM Jaishankar

Why in the news?

  • External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that around 75% of disengagement issues at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China have been resolved.
  • The statement was made during a speech at the Global Centre for Security Policy in Geneva. 

Impact of Galwan Valley Clash: 

  • External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the significant impact of the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash on India-China relations.
  • He noted that border violence is deeply interconnected with the overall bilateral relationship between India and China.

About Galwan Valley :

Location:

  • Situated between Ladakh (west) and Aksai Chin (east).
  • The Galwan River flows from Aksai Chin to the Shyok River in Ladakh.

Significance:

  • Strategic due to control of the Shyok route via the river’s ridgeline.
  • Notable flashpoint in the 1962 India-China war.

2020 Clash:

  • June 15, 2020: Violent confrontation between Indian and Chinese soldiers.
  • India lost 20 soldiers; China reported four casualties, with some estimates suggesting up to 40 PLA deaths.

Line of Actual Control (LAC): 

  • Definition:
    • Demarcates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
    • Not officially agreed upon or delineated.
  • Length:
    • India: Approximately 3,488 km.
    • China: Around 2,000 km.
  • Sectors:
    • Eastern: Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
    • Middle: Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
    • Western: Ladakh.
  • Claims:
    • India: LAC is not its claim line; India claims Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan.
    • China: LAC is its claim line except in the eastern sector, where it claims Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet.
  • Disagreements:
    • India rejects LAC, viewing it as a Chinese construct.
    • The Chinese LAC lacks clarity and leaves room for territorial adjustments.
    • Historical maps and agreements, such as the 1914 Shimla Agreement, play a role in the dispute.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/army-is-cranking-up-efforts-to-boost-infrastructure-connectivity-along-lac-in-arunachal/