National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived in Beijing on Monday for a two-day visit to participate in the 25th round of Special Representatives (SR) talks on the India-China boundary question. Doval is scheduled to hold discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister and his counterpart Wang Yi on Tuesday, with the talks taking place amid continued differences between the two countries over their disputed border and uncertainty surrounding Chinese President Xi Jinping's expected visit to India for the BRICS summit.

The boundary talks are expected to focus on long-standing differences between New Delhi and Beijing, including issues concerning Arunachal Pradesh. The two countries have continued to manage unresolved questions along their disputed frontier even as both sides have taken steps in recent years to stabilise bilateral ties. The SR mechanism remains an important diplomatic channel for addressing the boundary issue and maintaining communication between the two governments.

The talks assume particular significance because India-China relations were severely damaged by the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, when soldiers from the two countries were killed during a violent confrontation in eastern Ladakh. The incident was followed by a prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control, leading to a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties and increased military deployments in the border areas.

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Since then, India and China have pursued multiple rounds of military and diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing tensions. The two sides have gradually worked towards disengagement and restoring stability in certain areas, although major differences remain. The unresolved boundary dispute continues to influence the wider relationship, while issues such as Arunachal Pradesh remain sensitive for New Delhi.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced the Special Representatives meeting during a media briefing in Beijing on Monday. He said Doval and Wang would hold an “in-depth discussion” on the boundary question as well as bilateral, regional and international issues. Lin described the SR mechanism as the main channel for negotiations between India and China on the boundary issue and an important platform for communication on matters of mutual interest.

The discussions are also being held against the backdrop of uncertainty over Xi Jinping's much-anticipated visit to India for the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12 and 13. A visit by Xi would carry considerable diplomatic significance given the fragile state of India-China relations and the efforts underway to improve ties following the tensions triggered by the Galwan clash. The absence of clarity over the visit has added another layer of uncertainty to the bilateral engagement.

Doval's visit to Beijing therefore comes at a critical stage in India's efforts to manage relations with China while addressing unresolved border concerns. The outcome of the 25th round of SR talks could provide an indication of the direction of future engagement on the boundary question and broader bilateral issues. While the two sides have taken steps towards stabilisation, the continuing differences demonstrate that restoring a stable and durable relationship will require sustained diplomatic and security-level engagement.

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