China has once again termed its border dispute with India as "complicated", but in a significant diplomatic signal, expressed readiness to engage in talks on delimitation and maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The response came shortly after Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in Qingdao, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) 2025 conclave.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the media in Beijing, responding to questions regarding India’s proposal to initiate structured dialogue for de-escalation. She emphasised that China and India have a long-standing Special Representatives (SRs) mechanism for managing the China-India boundary question, and both nations have agreed upon the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles that serve as the foundation for a future settlement.

While China reiterated that the border issue is complex and will take time to settle, it also highlighted a willingness to maintain communication and hold negotiations related to boundary delimitation and management. Mao underlined that both countries already have multiple levels of diplomatic and military communication mechanisms, and encouraged India to continue working in the same direction to ensure peace and tranquillity along the LAC.

Background of the Ongoing Border Dispute

The India-China border conflict has been one of Asia’s most enduring territorial disputes, stretching over several decades, with sporadic flare-ups and standoffs across the western, middle, and eastern sectors of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The issue has especially gained attention post the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, which escalated tensions dramatically.

Since then, India and China have held 23 rounds of Special Representatives-level talks, aimed at demarcating and resolving the undefined boundary. However, progress has been slow, and military build-ups continue in several high-altitude regions of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Singh-Dong Meeting at SCO: India’s Fresh Push

In the latest development, Rajnath Singh met Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun on June 26 in Qingdao, where he proposed a structured roadmap for de-escalation. His approach stressed reviving existing mechanisms and enhancing efforts towards boundary demarcation.

According to reports, Singh advocated for cooperation based on mutual respect and equitable principles, calling for the restoration of peaceful border conditions to prevent confrontations like the one in Galwan. The Indian minister’s message was clear—lasting peace depends on clarity and consensus on boundary matters.

China's Position and Diplomatic Tone

In response to these developments, China acknowledged the sincerity of India’s outreach but maintained that the boundary issue is highly complicated and would require persistent diplomatic engagement. Mao Ning stressed that both nations had already laid down political guidelines, and the emphasis should now be on implementation and trust-building.

She said, “The boundary question is complicated, and it takes time to settle it. But the positive side is that the two countries have already established mechanisms at various levels for thorough communication.”

China has consistently preferred a gradual resolution, often cautioning against external interference or unilateral decisions. In this light, Mao reiterated the value of bilateral talks, including diplomatic channels, military coordination, and the SR-level mechanism, as the right way forward.

She also affirmed, “China stands ready to maintain communication with India on issues including delimitation negotiation and border management, jointly keep the border areas peaceful and tranquil, and promote cross-border exchange and cooperation.”

Special Representatives Mechanism: A Key Diplomatic Tool

The Special Representatives mechanism, established in 2003, involves high-level appointees from both sides—usually India’s National Security Advisor and China’s State Councillor or senior diplomat. This framework is tasked with formulating a political solution to the long-pending boundary dispute.

Despite 23 rounds of discussions, major progress has remained elusive. However, it has been instrumental in preventing large-scale escalations, especially in sensitive regions like Depsang Plains, Demchok, and Pangong Tso.

In the current diplomatic cycle, China’s mention of delimitation negotiation signals a potential policy shift, or at least a willingness to revisit the core issue of border mapping, which was stalled after 2005.

Challenges Ahead in the Border Dialogue

Even as China calls the India border issue complicated, there remain several strategic and tactical roadblocks:

• Ambiguity in LAC perception: India and China perceive the LAC differently in many sectors, often leading to patrolling clashes.

• Infrastructure development: Both countries have aggressively improved road, bridge, and airstrip infrastructure along the border, increasing the possibility of military confrontations.

• Trust deficit: Following Galwan, diplomatic mistrust has deepened, with both countries reinforcing their military presence.

Despite these tensions, both countries continue to agree on the need to prevent escalation. The emphasis from both ends is now clearly shifting towards delimitation and confidence-building.

SCO and Its Role in Regional Security

The SCO meeting in Qingdao has emerged as a vital platform for multilateral and bilateral engagements. India and China, despite their adversarial postures, have often used the forum to convey diplomatic signals. Rajnath Singh’s sideline meeting is another attempt at reviving stalled conversations, away from the pressures of public posturing.

While SCO does not directly intervene in bilateral disputes, it promotes regional peace, connectivity, and anti-terror cooperation—issues that India and China can collaborate on if border tensions are managed wisely.

Conclusion: A Fragile But Vital Dialogue

The China India border dispute remains one of the most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints in Asia, with the potential to disrupt regional peace if left unaddressed. China's statement that the issue is "complicated" but manageable through delimitation negotiation and continuous dialogue offers a ray of diplomatic hope.

India, on its part, has repeatedly urged structured engagement and practical steps for demilitarisation and peace. As both countries gear up for further rounds of talks, the focus must remain on implementing existing agreements, rebuilding mutual trust, and working through established mechanisms like the SR-level dialogue and military coordination protocols.

With the spotlight once again on India-China diplomacy, the world will be watching how the two neighbours, and major global powers, manage their complex and strategically critical border relationship—and whether delimitation talks could finally pave the way for a lasting resolution to a decades-old conflict.

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