NSA Ajit Doval to be Special Representative (SR) for boundary talks with China
NDA Government has named National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval as India’s Special Representative (SR) for boundary talks with China. NSA Ajit Doval role of SR will be to conduct boundary negotiations and strategic consultations with China. This arrangement will be part of NSA’s overall assignment.
Background
- In 2003, India and China had established the mechanism of Special Representatives (SR) to thrash out a resolution to the vexed boundary question and work out a settlement over the disputed 3,500-km border.
- Under it two sides have so far held 17 rounds of talks, making some progress. Indian side is represented by NSA, while Chinese side is represented by a vice minister-level official.
- The last round was held in February, 2014 in New Delhi between the then NSA Shivshankar Menon and Chinese state councillor Yang Jiechi.
Earlier in July, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian PM Narendra Modi during their first meeting on the sidelines of BRICS Summit in Brazil had pledged to resolve the border dispute at the earliest accepting that this has hampered economic ties between the two countries.
Key facts on Border dispute
- India’s stance: India has clearly mentioned that China occupies 38,000 square km of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west. India has even claimed that Chinese border patrols have been intruding deeper into its side of the border. Many times Indian and Chinese armies were locked in a face-off in the Ladakh sector and other parts.
- China’s stance: China claims more than 90,000 sq km disputed land in the eastern sector of the Himalayas is acquired by India.
India is planning to beef up defences and improve infrastructure along the border with China in eastern and western sectors. But China has expressed concern about India’s plan to build roads and border outposts in Arunachal Pradesh.
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Month: Current Affairs - November, 2014