Mansarovar yatra resume indicates relations between India and China improving now like before? There has been an agreement between the two countries to start the Mansarovar Yatra, relax visa rules and start flights between New Delhi and Beijing. For the first time since the tension between the two countries escalated five years ago due to clashes at the Indo Tibet border, it seems that the tension has reduced so much that everything is really going well between the two countries or are there still some problems?
Mansarovar Yatra Resume, What the Ministry of External Affairs has said?:
Efforts have been going on for the last several months to improve relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, with the aim of further improving bilateral relations, India and China have decided to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra which has been closed since 2020. During the meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, New Delhi and Beijing also agreed in principle to resume direct flights for Mansarovar Yatra.
Vikram Misri was on a two-day visit to Beijing for the meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Deputy Minister Mechanism between India and China. In this meeting, the two sides agreed to take important steps to stabilize and improve bilateral relations in line with the agreements reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia in October 2024.
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, “In this context, the two sides have decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of April 2025. The relevant mechanisms will discuss the modalities to do so in accordance with the existing agreements. They also agreed to hold an early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism to resume the provision of hydrological data and discuss other cooperation related to trans-border rivers.”
Recalling the agreement reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan in October 2024, for disengagement at LAC and to start Mansarovar Yatra the Ministry of External Affairs said that the two sides comprehensively reviewed the state of India-China bilateral relations and agreed to take certain common people-centric steps to stabilize and restore relations.
This is indirectly in reference to the situation on the Indo Tibet border (LAC). No specific timeline has been set for the withdrawal of troops and de-escalation and no path has been given for the same.
The visit of the Indian Foreign Secretary is a step towards improving bilateral relations by take taking forward steps to start Mansarovar Yatra which deteriorated after the Chinese intrusion in 2020 and the military standoff on the LAC (Line of Actual Control) in eastern Ladakh.
Though, peace on the LAC has remained in a very delicate state. Especially after 5 May 2020 when Chinese soldiers tried to intrude into the Indian border. The result of this was that later on 15 June there was a clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. There were also reports of more than 45 Chinese soldiers being killed.
Both the countries had deployed a large number of troops around the LAC on a large scale and built permanent structures. The situation had become very delicate. Efforts were started to improve relations and disengagement after the clashes.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced on October 21 last year that he had signed an agreement with China to patrol the LAC.
India-China Disengagement Agreement:
With the first step of starting Mansarovar Yatra The India-China Disengagement Agreement proved to be an important milestone in reducing tensions that escalated since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Under the disengagement process, both India and China agreed to resume patrolling in sensitive areas including Depsang and Demchok. The agreement was followed by high-level talks between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. These discussions focused on a comprehensive solution to the LAC issue, and to start Mansarovar Yatra emphasizing the need for a stable and peaceful border structure.
Why is China conducting war exercises near the LAC Now?
When this process of improving relations between India and China is going on, this month there were reports of Chinese military PLA conducting war exercises near the LAC. Questions arose that what does China want from India? To improve relations or to continue to act on the LAC under the guise of improving relations?
After the clash between the soldiers of the two countries in the Ladakh region about five years ago, patrolling resumed in Depsang, Demchok for the first time, now China has again started acting on the LAC in the eastern Ladakh region. China conducted a war exercise in the high-altitude plateau region, a few days before the foundation day of the Indian Army. This exercise was in a way to strengthen its position on preparedness and logistics support in difficult conditions.
Media reports quoted sources as saying that this war exercise was conducted under the leadership of a regiment of the People’s Liberation Army i.e. PLA Xinjiang Military Command. It used advanced military technology including all-terrain vehicles, unmanned systems, drones and exoskeletons designed to increase the mobility and endurance of soldiers.
The report said that in view of the exercise, the Indian armed forces increased their vigilance on the India-China border. These exercises are not simply training exercises; they serve as tactics, indicating China’s ability to rapidly mobilize and maintain forces in disputed areas.
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi had then said that the situation across the LAC is sensitive but stable.
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