On September 5, 2020, India and China signed a five-point agreement in Moscow, aimed at de-escalating tensions along their shared border. The agreement was signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries, S. Jaishankar and Wang Yi, after a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.
The agreement came after several months of heightened tensions between the two nations, which led to a deadly clash in June, in which at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in Ladakh`s Galwan Valley. The incident marked the worst violence between the two sides in over four decades.
The Moscow agreement outlines five points that the two countries agreed to adhere to in order to maintain peace and stability along the contested border. These five points are as follows:
1. The two sides should abide by all existing agreements and protocols on the management of the border areas.
2. The two sides should maintain and strengthen communication and dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equality.
3. The two sides should take practical measures to properly handle issues arising from border management, to prevent them from escalating.
4. The two sides should expedite work to conclude new Confidence Building Measures to maintain and enhance peace and tranquility in the border areas.
5. The two sides should continue to have dialogue and negotiations to achieve a mutually acceptable solution to the border issue.
The agreement is seen as a positive step towards resolving the long-standing border dispute between India and China, which dates back to the 1950s. While the two countries have managed to maintain peace and stability along the border for the most part, tensions have flared up from time to time. The Moscow agreement is aimed at preventing such flare-ups from turning into full-blown conflicts.
The agreement has been welcomed by both India and China, as well as the international community. The United States, for instance, welcomed the agreement, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling it a “good news.”
In conclusion, the Moscow agreement between India and China is a positive step towards resolving the long-standing border dispute between the two nations. It is hoped that both countries adhere to the agreement and take practical measures to maintain peace and stability along the border.