Joint Press Statement

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Country/entity: China
India
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Joint Press Statement
Date: 10 Sep 2020
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/interstate conflict
Sino-Indian Border Dispute (1962 - )
There are two main areas that are disputed by China and India. These areas are largely unpopulated and are sparse with resources, but strategically important for both powers. Tensions mounted during the 1962 border war and 1986 skirmish. In the North-West there is the Aksai Chin plateau that is administered by China, but is claimed by India. Bordered by Tibet and Xinjiang, this border is approximately 685 miles long. The dispute in the Eastern sector on the tri-border area between India, China and Myanmar is largely due to a disagreement over the McMahon Line named after Sir Henry McMahon, the representative of the Indian Government to the Simla Conference of 1914. The line itself follows the watersheds of the Himalayas from Bhutan to Myanmar. China does not recognise the McMahon line, due to its original imperial context, and their claim runs along the foothills in Indian Territory. The area under dispute covers an area of 36,000 square miles. The Middle sector between Bhutan and Nepal is demarcated by the Himalayan watersheds. The border was confirmed in the British-Chinese Convention of 1890 and was undisputed until a brief standoff emerged in this sector in June 2017 on the Doklam plateau.
Since 2003 intensified efforts by the two powers have resulted in talks on the border issues handled by special representatives. However, the two sides continue to have differing opinions on the location of the 'Line of Actual Control' (LAC), which has led to incursions and military build-ups in 2009, 2013 and 2017.
Stage: Renewal
Conflict nature: Territory
Peace process: China-India border dispute peace process
Parties: H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India
H.E. Wang Yi, State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China
Third parties: -
Description: This short agreement is in the form of a press release. The ministers from India and China met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Moscow to discuss developments along the India-China border and India-China relations.

Agreement document: CN_IN_200920_Joint Press Statement - Meeting of External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of China (September 10, 2020).pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: Page 1
4. The two sides agreed to continue to have dialogue and communication through the Special Representative mechanism on the India-China boundary question. They also agreed in this context that the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), should also continue its meetings.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1,
2. The two Foreign Ministers agreed that the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions.

3. The two Ministers agreed that both sides shall abide by all the existing agreements and protocol on China-India boundary affairs, maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and avoid any action that could escalate matters.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1,
2. The two Foreign Ministers agreed that the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Sourced from India's Ministry of External Affairs https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/32962/Joint+Press+Statement++Meeting+of+External+Affairs+Minister+and+the+Foreign+Minister+of+China+September+10+2020.

Joint Press Statement - Meeting of External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of China (September 10, 2020)

September 10, 2020

H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India met H.E. Wang Yi, State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China on 10th September in Moscow on the side-lines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.

Both Ministers had a frank and constructive discussion on the developments in the India-China border areas as well as on India-China relations and agreed as follows:

1. The two Ministers agreed that both sides should take guidance from the series of consensus of the leaders on developing India-China relations, including not allowing differences to become disputes.

2. The two Foreign Ministers agreed that the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side.

They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions.

3. The two Ministers agreed that both sides shall abide by all the existing agreements and protocol on China-India boundary affairs, maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas and avoid any action that could escalate matters.

4. The two sides also agreed to continue to have dialogue and communication through the Special Representative mechanism on the India-China boundary question.

They also agreed in this context that the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), should also continue its meetings.

5. The Ministers agreed that as the situation eases, the two sides should expedite work to conclude new Confidence Building Measures to maintain and enhance peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

Moscow

September 10, 2020