NEW DELHI: India and China have held their first Senior Highest Military Commander-Level Flag Meeting in the Arunachal Pradesh sector, with talks taking place on both sides of the frontier earlier this week.The meeting followed understandings reached during the Special Representatives dialogue between National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. The talks are part of efforts by the two countries to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and gradually improve bilateral ties.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the meeting was held at Wacha on the Indian side on September 6 and at Damai on the Chinese side on September 7.
New military mechanism along eastern frontier
Jaiswal said the meeting followed agreements reached during the Special Representatives talks in August 2025 and August 2026, along with subsequent discussions under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination.“Pursuant to the understandings reached between the Special Representatives of India and China in August 2025 and August 2026, and subsequent discussions at the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meetings held in Beijing and New Delhi in May and August 2026 respectively, the first Senior Highest Military Commander-Level Flag Meeting was held at Wacha on the Indian side in Arunachal Pradesh on September 6 and Damai on the Chinese side on September 7,” Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.“A similar mechanism also exists in the Western Sector,” he said.The talks took place amid reports of aggressive military posturing by Chinese troops along the LAC in the Upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh.Jaiswal also said that India-China relations are gradually moving in a “positive direction”.
Border peace remains key to improving ties
Doval and Wang, who are the designated Special Representatives for the India-China boundary talks, held their latest dialogue in Beijing last month.During the meeting, the two sides discussed the delimitation of the boundary, trans-boundary cooperation and the need to maintain peace along the LAC.The Indian side stressed that peace and tranquillity along the border are important for the continued development of bilateral relations.
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The Special Representatives mechanism was established in 2003 to address the India-China boundary dispute, which covers a 3,488-km frontier.
Military engagement ahead of Xi visit
India and China have taken several steps in recent months to rebuild relations that deteriorated sharply after the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. The latest military engagement comes days before Chinese president Xi Jinping is expected to visit India for the BRICS summit. Xi is likely to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday.