Rajnath Singh urges border demarcation with China, highlights trust-building at SCO meeting

India pushed for a lasting resolution to the border demarcation issue with China and stressed the importance of addressing intricate challenges through a clear plan for engagement and tension reduction during discussions between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, on Thursday.

“Singh stressed border management and a permanent solution of border demarcation by revitalising the established mechanism on the issue,” the defence ministry stated on Friday, following the talks held by the two ministers in Qingdao, China, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting.

Singh also urged efforts to restore trust eroded after the 2020 military confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh by implementing practical measures.

The differing interpretations of the LAC by India and China often lead to encounters between opposing patrols along the disputed border. “The two ministers agreed to continue consultations at various levels to achieve progress on issues related to disengagement, de-escalation, border management and eventual delimitation through existing mechanisms,” the ministry stated.

This marked Singh’s first trip to China since the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash involving Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh.

Homework done before Rajnath Singh's China tour

In October 2024, the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) finalised disengagement from Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh, resolving the last two conflict points along the LAC. This progress enabled both armies to overcome a two-year deadlock in talks and alleviate border tensions that started in May 2020. “Both sides should agree to demarcate the LAC to overcome the problem of existing disputed areas, which are mostly in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh and eliminate the face-offs that take place when patrols come face to face in those areas,” said military affairs expert Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd).

Singh recognised the efforts by both nations “to bring back semblance of normalcy” in their bilateral ties and stressed “the need to create good neighbourly conditions to achieve best mutual benefits as well as to cooperate for stability in Asia and the world.”

“The two ministers held in-depth discussions on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the India-China border,” the ministry’s statement noted.

Singh expressed appreciation for the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

On Friday, he underscored the importance of preventing new complications in the India-China relationship. “Held talks with Admiral Dong Jun…We had a constructive and forward-looking exchange of views on issues…Expressed my happiness on the restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly six years. It is incumbent on both sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities in the bilateral relationship,” Singh wrote on X.

The minister also informed the Chinese defence minister about the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, aimed at disrupting terrorist networks in Pakistan.

India initiated the operation on May 7, targeting terror and military facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which led to a four-day military clash with Pakistan involving fighter jets, missiles, drones, long-range weapons and heavy artillery until both sides agreed to cease military actions on May 10.

The SCO defence ministers’ meeting failed to produce a joint communique on Thursday because India declined to support the document, which overlooked its concerns about terrorism. Singh refused to endorse the communique as it omitted mention of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, while referencing the Jaffar Express hijacking in Pakistan by the Balochistan Liberation Army on March 11, as reported by Hindustan Times.

In his speech at the meeting, Singh explained that India launched Operation Sindoor to exercise its right to self-defence against terrorism and to prevent and deter further cross-border attacks. “It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,” he said at the time, adding that the perpetrators organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, should be held accountable and brought to justice.

On Thursday, Singh also met with his Russian counterpart andrey Belousov, during the SCO defence ministers’ meeting. This was among the most significant recent engagements between leaders of the two countries, occurring against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and the resulting need to enhance defence production, particularly in critical areas such as air defence, air-to-air missiles, modern capabilities and upgrades of air platforms, according to the ministry.

“Supply of S-400 systems, Su-30 MKI upgrades and procurement of critical military hardware in expeditious timeframes were some of the key takeaways of the meeting.”