India-China WMCC meet: Boundary delimitation, LAC peace on agenda
Synopsis
The 36th WMCC meeting in New Delhi marks another step in India-China's cautious diplomatic reset — but the Indian side's pointed push for trans-border river data from China reveals that trust-building has clear limits. With the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra back and flights restored, the thaw is real, yet unresolved upstream water concerns keep the relationship structurally asymmetric.
Key Takeaways
The 36th WMCC meeting between India and China was held in New Delhi on 6 August 2025 .
Indian delegation was led by Sujit Ghosh , Joint Secretary (East Asia), MEA; Chinese side by Hou Yanqi , DG, Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department.
Both sides agreed to use existing channels — WMCC, local commander-level meetings — to manage the Line of Actual Control (LAC) .
India pushed for an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers and sought technical data on China's upstream projects.
Broader bilateral steps include resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and restoration of direct civil aviation links.
The Indian diaspora in Beijing reportedly raised concerns about anti-India content on Chinese social media; MEA has not issued a specific response.
India and China held high-level diplomatic talks on 6 August 2025 in New Delhi, covering boundary delimitation, border management, mechanism-building, and trans-border cooperation — the latest structured effort to consolidate a fragile but improving bilateral relationship. The discussions took place during the 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed in a statement on 7 August.
Who Led the Delegations
Sujit Ghosh, Joint Secretary (East Asia) at the MEA, headed the Indian side. The Chinese delegation was led by Hou Yanqi, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The seniority of both delegations signals that these are substantive working-level exchanges, not ceremonial ones.
Key Developments at the WMCC Meeting
The MEA said both sides 'engaged in frank discussions and reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).' The statement underlined that 'maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations.'
Both nations agreed to continue using existing diplomatic and military channels — including the WMCC itself, local commander-level meetings, and other agreed mechanisms — to resolve outstanding issues and prevent misunderstanding or miscalculation along the LAC. The meeting was framed explicitly as a follow-up to the outcomes of the 24th Special Representative (SR) Talks.
Notably, the Indian side reiterated the need for an early convening of the Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers and stressed the importance of China sharing technical details on upstream projects — a long-standing concern given Beijing's dam-building activity on rivers that flow into India.
Broader Bilateral Thaw
The WMCC meeting comes against the backdrop of a broader diplomatic reset between the two neighbours. On 4 August, the MEA noted that India and China have taken several concrete steps to improve people-to-people ties, including the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the re-establishment of direct civil aviation connectivity.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a bi-weekly media briefing on Tuesday, said: 'Discussions between the two countries are ongoing, and the talks are moving in a positive direction... We believe these steps will further strengthen the positive relationship between the two countries.'
Social Media Tensions in the Background
Jaiswal's remarks came in response to a question about concerns raised by the Indian diaspora regarding a reported rise in abusive content targeting Indians and Indian culture on Chinese social media platforms. Members of the Indian community had reportedly flagged the issue at an open forum hosted by the Indian Embassy in Beijing. The MEA has not yet issued a formal response specifically addressing those concerns.
What Comes Next
With the 36th WMCC concluded, attention now shifts to whether the Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers can be convened in the near term — a step India has been pushing for. Sustained momentum on LAC management and people-to-people measures will be the twin benchmarks by which this diplomatic thaw is judged in the months ahead.
Point of View
Resumed flights — is real, but it is happening on the surface while deeper structural asymmetries remain unaddressed. The Indian diaspora's social media grievances, flagged at an embassy forum in Beijing, add a people-level friction point that official communiqués tend to paper over. A thaw that does not resolve these undercurrents will remain fragile.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WMCC and why does it matter for India-China relations?
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) is a structured diplomatic channel for managing border issues, including the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It matters because it provides a regular, institutionalised forum where both sides can address disputes, prevent escalation, and build confidence measures without requiring summit-level intervention.
What was discussed at the 36th WMCC meeting on 6 August 2025?
The meeting covered boundary delimitation, border management, mechanism-building, and trans-border cooperation. Both sides reviewed the LAC situation, agreed to use existing diplomatic and military channels to resolve outstanding issues, and discussed follow-up steps from the 24th Special Representative Talks. India also pushed for an early meeting on trans-border rivers.
Why is India pressing China for trans-border river data?
India has repeatedly sought technical information on China's upstream dam and infrastructure projects on rivers that flow into Indian territory. Lack of such data creates risks for flood forecasting and water management downstream. The Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers is the agreed forum for this exchange, but India says it needs to be convened urgently.
What steps have India and China taken to improve bilateral ties recently?
Recent measures include the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been suspended for several years, and the re-establishment of direct civil aviation connectivity between the two countries. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described talks as 'moving in a positive direction' as of early August 2025.
What concerns did the Indian diaspora raise about Chinese social media?
Members of the Indian community reportedly flagged a rise in abusive content targeting Indians and Indian culture on Chinese social media platforms at an open forum hosted by the Indian Embassy in Beijing. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal acknowledged the question but did not announce any specific diplomatic action in response.
