NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajanth Singh brought in the issue of the prevalent trust deficit generated post the 2020 standoff in Eastern Ladakh during his bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, calling for “bridging”.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China on June 26, 2025.
While Rajnath acknowledged the work being undertaken by both sides to bring back semblance of normalcy in the bilateral relations, he also “called for bridging the trust deficit created after the 2020 Border standoff, by taking action on ground.”
The two Ministers held in-depth discussions on the need to maintain peace and tranquility along the 3,488 km Indo-China border, also referred to as the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
He highlighted the necessity of solving the complex issues through a structured roadmap of permanent engagement and de-escalation.
The two Ministers agreed to continue consultations at various levels to achieve progress on issues related to disengagement, de-escalation, border management and eventual de-limitation through existing mechanisms.
Rajnath Singh also stressed on border management and to have a permanent solution of border demarcation by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue. He emphasised 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 Defence Minister highlighted the important milestone of reaching 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He also appreciated the resumption of Kailash Manasarovar yatra after a gap of five years.
Rajnath Singh also briefed his counterpart on the heinous terrorist attack carried out against innocent civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir on April 22, 2025, and India’s Operation Sindoor aimed at dismantling the terrorist networks in Pakistan.
The trust deficit and heightened deployment all along the LAC
The news story of the Eastern Ladakh 2020 standoff was the break of the TNIE . And the trust deficit generated since then led to heightened deployment all along the LAC including the Middle Sector.
The Indian Stand remains that the Chinese PLA Army goes back to the 2020 April status quo position. The 2020 stand off began with the clashes between the troops at Finger 4 on the north bank of Pangong Tso. It later spread out to multiple points including Hot Spring, Gogra, Galwan and Depsang.
The Chinese moves have led to increase of on ground friction positions in Eastern Ladakh raising it to 17 such locations along the 832 kilometer long LAC in Ladakh.
The standoff in Eastern Ladakh was a breach of all the agreements Key Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and Pacts. These included the Panchsheel Agreement signed in Beijing on April 29, 1955, Agreement on Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility signed in Beijing on September 7, 1993, Agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field signed in New Delhi on November 29, 1996, Protocol between India and China on Modalities for the Implementation of Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field in the India-China Border Areas April 11, 2005 and the Agreement on Border Defence Cooperation on October 23, 2013
Disengagement from all standoff points in Eastern Ladakh is complete but there is a long way to go before things touch the 2020 status quo. The biggest of all is the continued deployment of more than a lakh soldiers, along with their arms and equipment, in the vicinity of the stated LAC in Eastern Ladakh.
During the bilateral meeting, the two Ministers agreed to continue consultations at various levels to achieve progress on issues related to disengagement, de-escalation, border management and eventual de-limitation through existing mechanisms.
The disengagement was completed in October 2024 and the TNIE reported that the agreement between the Corps Commanders was inked on October 21 and disengagement, along with the dismantling of temporary structures, began on October 23. These are aimed at forces returning to their April 2020 positions.
The agreement between the Corps Commanders was inked on October 21 and disengagement along with dismantling of temporary structures began on October 23. These are aimed at forces returning to their April 2020 positions.
Troops moved back from strategically important Depsang and the Charding Nullah Junction (CNJ) in Demchok, but they remain in the vicinity, said sources.
The Depsang is strategically important due to its proximity to the Y Junction, which is about 20 km from the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) airfield.
The Road Ahead
Post the 2020 standoff in Eastern Ladakh for the first time the Corps Commanders (Senior Higher Military Commander Level: SCML) from the two sides were involved in discussing a resolution. Earlier, the Division Commanders (Higher Military Commander Level: HCML) were the highest-level officers resolving the ground situation. Below it come the Local Commander level and Delegation Level (Sector Commander or Brigadier level) talks which have been going on regularly.
There have been 21 rounds of India-China Corps Commander Level (SHMCL) Meetings with the last one held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on 19 February 2024. The 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on 25 March 2025 in Beijing.
WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for management of India-China border areas, as well as to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation, including between their border security personnel.
The military and Diplomatic parlays will continue to improve the relations and condition along the LAC.
