LAC: India, China agree to discuss better understanding of border
Why in the news
On 23 October 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs said India and China had agreed to hold talks on improving their understanding of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in appropriate areas, to manage the border better.
Key facts
- Speaker: MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, at a media briefing in New Delhi.
- Context: he was responding to questions on recent remarks by the Director General of ITBP.
- Mechanisms: both countries continue to rely on existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to settle pending issues and prevent misunderstanding or miscalculation.
- Patrolling: India said the situation is disturbed at times when Chinese troops depart from established patrolling patterns.
- Core position: peace and tranquillity in border areas remain essential for overall bilateral ties.
Recent India-China border engagement
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Special Representatives understandings | Reached in August 2025 and August 2026 |
| First Senior Highest Military Commander-level flag meeting | 6-7 September 2026 at Wacha (Arunachal Pradesh, Indian side) and Damai (Chinese side) |
| Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) | Follow-up diplomatic talks on border affairs |
About the LAC and ITBP
The LAC is the de facto border between India and China. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), a Central Armed Police Force under the Home Ministry, is mainly tasked with guarding the 3,488-km LAC.
Exam angle
- LAC length guarded by ITBP: 3,488 km.
- WMCC and Special Representatives talks are the key diplomatic channels on the boundary.
- Current MEA spokesperson: Randhir Jaiswal.