There is no
commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. There
are areas along the border where India and China have differing perceptions of
the LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling upto
their respective perceptions of the LAC, transgressions do occur. Government regularly takes up any
transgression with the Chinese side through established mechanisms.
Both countries
signed a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement on 23rd October, 2013,
seeking to facilitate ways and means to implement border defence cooperation;
measures to facilitate contacts and to enhance understanding and cooperation
between the border
defence forces as well as procedures to be followed where
there is no common understanding of the Line of Actual Control.
Reiterating that neither side shall use its
military capability against the other side and that their respective military strengths
shall not be used to attack the other side
Articles in Agreement :
- carry out border defence cooperation
- Exchange information
- Jointly combat smuggling of arms, wildlife, wildlife articles and other contrabands;
- Border deference cooperation visualized in this agreement shall be implemented
- The two sides may establish Border Personnel Meeting sites in all sectors, as well as telephone contacts and telecommunication links at mutually agreed locations
- In order to enhance understanding and cooperation between the border defence forces of the two sides, each side may invite the other side for joint celebrations on major national or military days or festivals and organize cultural activities.
- The two sides agree that they shall not follow or tail patrols of the other side in areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control in the India-China border areas
- In case a doubtful situation,seek a clarification from the other side.
- The two sides agree that if the border defence forces of the two sides come to a face-to-face situation in areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control, both sides shall exercise maximum self-restraint, refrain from any provocative actions, not use force or threaten to use force against the other side, treat each other with courtesy and prevent exchange of fire or armed conflict.
