India and China hold 36th border consultation meeting, emphasize peace along LAC is essential for bilateral relations

Aug 7, 2026

India and China held the 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs in New Delhi on August 6, 2026. Led by Sujit Ghosh and Hou Yanqi, the delegations reviewed the Line of Actual Control situation, emphasizing that border peace is essential for bilateral relations. The sides agreed to utilize diplomatic and military channels to prevent miscalculations, while India reiterated requests for trans-border river technical details and upstream project data.

36th WMCC border consultation

▪India and China held the 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs in New Delhi on August 6, 2026.
▪The 35th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting was held in Beijing on May 27, 2026, where Indian and Chinese officials reviewed border area situations.
▪The Chinese delegation at the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on August 6, 2026, was led by Hou Yanqi, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
▪The Indian delegation at the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on August 6, 2026, was led by Sujit Ghosh, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

LAC peace maintenance priority

▪Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on August 4, 2026, that India and China have taken steps to improve relations, including resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
▪During the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on August 6, 2026, Indian and Chinese officials held frank discussions and reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control.
▪During the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on August 6, 2026, India and China underlined that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for bilateral relations.

Diplomatic resolution channels

▪During the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on August 6, 2026, India and China agreed to continue using existing diplomatic channels to resolve outstanding border issues.
▪Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila, Philippines, in July 2026, emphasizing that border peace is a prerequisite for normal bilateral ties.

Military resolution channels

▪During the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on August 6, 2026, India and China agreed to continue using existing diplomatic channels to resolve outstanding border issues.
▪During the 24th Special Representatives dialogue in August 2025, India and China agreed to establish additional General Level Mechanisms in the eastern and middle sectors to address border-related issues.

Trans-border rivers expert mechanism

▪During the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on August 6, 2026, the Indian delegation emphasized the importance of China sharing technical details regarding its upstream projects.
▪During the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on August 6, 2026, the Indian delegation reiterated the need for an early convening of the next meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers.

Special Representatives talks follow-up

▪During the 36th Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on August 6, 2026, India and China held detailed exchanges on boundary delimitation, border management, mechanism-building, and trans-border cooperation.
▪During the 24th Special Representatives dialogue in August 2025, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to seek a border settlement framework in accordance with the 2005 Agreement.