ITBP DG Shatrujit Kapur says that Chinese and Indian troops have come face to face in Arunachal Pradesh in the last few months. Clashes also took place at many places, which are still going on. The border dispute between India and China is decades old. The two countries have been in talks for a long time, but no final agreement has been reached on the entire border yet. The 25th meeting of the Special Representatives of the two countries was held in August 2026. It agreed to take forward border talks, maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and increase communication between military officials.

Despite this, the biggest question is where will the border be decided and when will the two countries reach a final agreement? To understand the dispute, it is important to look at what areas the two countries claim, how far the talks have come in 21 years, and what the latest agreement might change on the ground.

How much land does China control and what areas are claimed?

The Ministry of External Affairs stated in the Rajya Sabha on 8 December 2011 that China occupies about 38,000 square kilometers of Indian land in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from this, under the Border Agreement between China and Pakistan dated March 2, 1963, Pakistan ceded about 5,180 square kilometers of Indian land in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to China. The Indian government declared this transfer illegal. China claims about 90,000 square kilometers of land in Arunachal Pradesh on the eastern side of the border.

Special Representative negotiations began in 2003

India and China agreed in 2003 to appoint special representatives of the two countries to find a political solution to the border dispute. His job was to prepare a framework for a boundary agreement that both countries could agree on. After five initial meetings, on 11 April 2005, the two countries signed an agreement on political norms and guiding principles for the resolution of the Indo-China border dispute. Its objective was to determine the direction of a fair, reasonable and acceptable solution for both countries. As of August 2026, 25 meetings of the Special Representatives had been held. But no such final agreement has yet been reached for the entire border, ending the dispute forever.

What was decided in the 25th meeting? Consensus was reached on eight points

On August 25, 2026, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the 25th round of talks in Beijing. The joint consensus issued on August 26 includes eight key points.

1. Maintaining peace on the border

The two countries spoke of continuing to work to maintain peace along the border and stabilize relations.

2. To advance negotiations on setting limits

Based on the 2005 agreement, the two countries have to find a solution that is fair and acceptable to both.

3. Increase the role of two working groups

Groups concerned with border demarcation and border management will advance the negotiations. First they have to determine the terms and scope of their work.

4. Prompt discussion in case of dispute

Efforts will be made to resolve any situation or dispute on the ground through diplomatic negotiations, military officials and existing contact arrangements.

5. Two new hotlines and two meeting places

Two additional channels of communication for the military hotline and two additional locations for meetings of senior military commanders were earmarked in the eastern and central regions.

6. Border trade and pilgrimage

Both countries welcomed the reopening of the three designated border trade points. Emphasis was also placed on increasing the number of Indian pilgrim groups for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and strengthening cross-border cooperation.

7. Conversation on river statistics

An expert group meeting on transboundary rivers will be held in September. There will be discussions on sharing data related to water flows and water levels and extending old agreements.

8. Next meeting in India in 2027

The two countries agreed to hold the 26th meeting of Special Representatives in India in 2027.

What has changed in the relationship after the fierce conflict of 2020?

A major cause of tension in relations between India and China was a violent clash between the armies of the two countries in the Galwan Valley in June 2020. After this, trust on the border decreased and relations between the two countries were affected. India imposed restrictions on Chinese investment, banned several Chinese apps, including TikTok, and stopped direct flights with China.

In October 2024, an agreement was reached to withdraw troops from eastern Ladakh. After this Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping also met. Direct flights resumed in 2025 and PM Modi attended the SCO summit in China. These steps helped advance efforts to normalize relations between the two countries.

However, the border dispute is not over. Economic relations between the two countries also remain important. Bilateral trade between India and China is set to reach a record $155.6 billion in 2025, up 12% from last year. That is, despite the tension on the border, the economic relations between the two countries continued to grow.

What can change through negotiations and what are the biggest obstacles?

If the border demarcation goes ahead, the position of both the countries regarding the disputed areas may be clarified. New hotline communication channels and military meeting places can help communicate quickly in stressful situations. This can reduce the risk of conflict due to misunderstandings.

But maintaining peace on the border and finding a final solution to the border dispute are two different things. The two countries have now agreed to move forward with negotiations and improve border management. He did not say which area would be demarcated first, what changes would be made to the land and what would be the time frame for a final agreement. Expert groups must first determine their scope of work. Only then will it be clear how much concrete progress is being made in the delimitation process. The 26th meeting to be held in 2027 will be the next important milestone.

That is, after 25 meetings in 21 years, India and China have agreed to enhance contact arrangements to maintain peace on the border and advance border demarcation negotiations. But the final decision on the disputed land is still pending.