Peace on LAC vital for India-China ties, MEA says amid naming row

India on Tuesday said that the state of its border with China will be reflected in the overall bilateral relationship, and emphasised that maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is of utmost importance.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the remarks at a regular media briefing, responding to questions about the latest round of India-China border talks.

“In matters relating to the border areas between India and China, we have always emphasised in discussions with the Chinese side that we consider these issues as most serious. The maintenance of peace and tranquillity in these areas is of the utmost importance. We have also stated that the state of the border affairs will reflect on the state of our larger bilateral ties,” Mr. Jaiswal said.

He said the same position was reiterated at the meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC) held last week. “At this meeting, the two sides engaged in frank discussions and reviewed the situation along the LAC,” he added.

The Indian side again underlined that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations, Mr. Jaiswal said. It was agreed to continue using existing diplomatic and military channels, including the WMCC, local commander-level meetings and other agreed mechanisms, to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the LAC.

Addressing China's criticism over New Delhi identifying 27 places and features in Arunachal Pradesh by their standard names, Mr. Jaiswal asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an “inalienable and integral” part of India. “Nothing can change this indisputable reality,” he said.

The remarks come against the backdrop of a gradual rebuilding of India-China ties after the severe strain caused by the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020 and a subsequent military face-off that lasted over four years. In October 2024, the two sides finalised a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok, the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh.

Following the agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan and took several decisions to improve ties. In August last year, PM Modi travelled to Tianjin to attend the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where he and Mr. Xi held extensive talks. Mr. Modi said India is committed to taking forward ties with China based on mutual trust, respect and sensitivity.

The naming of places in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as southern Tibet, has been a recurring point of friction. India has consistently rejected Chinese objections, stating that the state is an integral part of the country. The latest set of names covers valleys, peaks and other geographical features, and India has asserted its sovereign right to name them.

Diplomatic observers note that the slow but steady restoration of high-level contacts, including the recent WMCC meeting, reflects a mutual desire to stabilise the relationship without compromising core positions. The focus remains on preventing escalation and maintaining peace along the LAC, which both sides have recognised as essential for broader engagement.