India China Agreement

Subject: IR

Context:

China through its military action at Galwan in Ladakh, which resulted in three killed on the Indian side, has violated three key bilateral agreements — 1993, 1996 and 2013 that have been central to maintaining peace and tranquility on the disputed Line of Actual Control.

Concept:

1993 agreement

• The 1993 agreement clearly states that in case personnel from either side cross the Line of Actual Control, “upon being cautioned by the other side, they shall immediately pull back to their side of the Line of Actual Control”.
• China has not done that either in Galwan or Pangong Tso.
• The 1993 agreement, in fact, clearly states that both sides will “jointly check” the alignment of LAC where there is a doubt.

1996 agreement

• Three years later, both sides went into further specifics, making it clear that troops on both sides shall “exercise self-restraint” in case of a face-off situation and start “immediate consultations” through diplomatic channels.
• Article VI of the 1996 agreement between India and China on “Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in the military field along the Line of Actual Control in the India China border areas” says, “Neither side shall open fire, cause bio degradation, use hazardous chemicals, conduct blast operations or hunt with guns or explosives within two kilometres from the line of actual control. This prohibition shall not apply to routine firing activities in small arms firing ranges.

2013 agreement

• The two sides agree that they shall not follow or tail patrols of the other side in areas where there is no common understanding of the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas.”