NSA Ajit Doval to visit Beijing on Monday for talks with Chinese counterpart

Ajit Doval, India's national security adviser, is set to visit China on Monday for high-level talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marking the 25th round of discussions under the Special Representatives mechanism for resolving the India-China border dispute. The meeting, scheduled to take place in Beijing, follows a period of heightened tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), particularly in the Arunachal Pradesh sector. The talks come just weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India for the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, which will be his first visit to the country in nearly seven years. The Special Representatives mechanism, established in 2003, aims to develop a framework for resolving the long-standing border dispute spanning 3,488 kilometers. Doval’s visit is considered crucial as it precedes Xi’s anticipated trip, during which he is expected to attend the summit on September 12–13. Although neither side has officially announced the details of Xi’s visit, officials suggest it will serve as an opportunity to stabilize bilateral relations and address ongoing issues related to the LAC. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi last met in August 2025 during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in China. Recent developments along the LAC have raised concerns among both nations. Incursions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army into Arunachal Pradesh have been reported, though the Defence Ministry has not yet released an official statement regarding their extent. These incidents add urgency to the upcoming talks, as they underscore the continued sensitivity of the border region. During the last round of Special Representatives’ meetings in New Delhi a year ago, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility along the LAC to foster better bilateral relations. The discussions are expected to cover two key areas: assessing the current situation along the LAC, including in Eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, and exploring ways to prevent future escalations. The talks will also likely touch upon the establishment of new mechanisms for managing the border, building on previous agreements. In 2024, after a prolonged military standoff in the Ladakh sector, the two leaders agreed on measures to normalize ties and resolve the border dispute. Efforts such as reviving the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, resuming direct flights, and easing visa restrictions for Chinese citizens have been implemented, but progress on de-escalation along the LAC has been limited. During the last round of talks, the Special Representatives emphasized the need for a “political perspective” in addressing the boundary question, aligning with the 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question. They also agreed to form an expert group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) to explore early gains in boundary delimitation and establish working groups to improve border management. Additional general-level mechanisms were proposed for the eastern and middle sectors of the border, beyond the existing structure in the western sector. Despite these commitments, there has been no public update from either side on the status of these initiatives. The latest meeting of the WMCC, held in New Delhi on August 6, focused on topics such as boundary delimitation, border management, mechanism-building, and trans-border cooperation. Officials noted that the discussions were a continuation of efforts initiated during the last round of talks between the Special Representatives. As Doval prepares for his visit to Beijing, the stakes remain high. Any tangible progress during the talks could potentially lead to a bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi during the BRICS Summit, offering a renewed chance to mend ties strained by persistent border disputes and other geopolitical factors.