India, China discuss border alignment

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 28. Experts from India and China today held their ninth round of discussions to clarify key portions of the 4,060- km. Sino-Indian border.

The two sides are currently focussed on clarifying the around 600 km. middle sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), having already exchanged maps detailing their perception of the boundary in this sector. Highly-placed sources in the Government say the differences between the two sides on the border alignment in this area are minimal and have been further narrowed down during the discussions.

India is keen on quickly clarifying the LAC along the entire border. In fact, the External Affairs Minister, Mr.Jaswant Singh, wrote to his Chinese counterpart saying the process of the LAC clarification should be concluded by December 2001. Both sides, however, are yet to address LAC clarification in the Ladakh area, described by India as sub-sector north.

Sources said that the LAC clarification among experts was only one part of a larger Sino-Indian dialogue. The Chinese, in fact, have hinted at a ``political settlement'' of the boundary issue. Chinese scholars have said Beijing might be inclined to a ``political deal'' revolving round Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. China, in fact, is in possession of historical records of exercising administrative control only in the Tawang area.

The process of LAC clarification by a Sino-Indian expert group is the result of the September, 1993 peace and tranquility accord, signed during the visit to China by the former Prime Minister, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao. Both sides subsequently signed a confidence-building measure agreement during the visit to India by the Chinese President, Mr. Jiang Zemin in 1996.

The Chinese delegation to the talks was led by Mr. Sun Gauangang, Deputy Director-General in the Asia department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, while the Indian team was headed by Mr. Vijay Gokhale, Director in the East Asia division of the External Affairs Ministry.

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