Doval–Wang Yi Face-Off in Beijing Today: India-China Border Talks Enter Crucial 25th Round

New Delhi: India and China are set to hold a crucial round of high-level talks on their long-standing border dispute today in Beijing. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for the 25th round of Special Representative-level negotiations, with the border situation expected to be at the centre of discussions.

According to China’s Global Times, the talks will focus primarily on the India-China boundary dispute. The two sides may also discuss bilateral relations and important regional and international developments.

Relations Came Under Strain After 2020

India-China relations witnessed a prolonged period of tension between 2020 and 2024, largely following the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has repeatedly maintained that peace and tranquillity along the border are essential for normalising broader bilateral ties.

In recent months, however, diplomatic and military-level engagement between the two countries has continued. Beijing has described the Special Representative mechanism as an important channel for addressing the boundary question and maintaining communication between the two sides.

Previous Round Was Held in Delhi

The 24th round of Special Representative talks was held in New Delhi in August 2025. During that meeting, India and China held extensive discussions on boundary-related matters and reached common ground on several issues.

The latest round comes as both countries seek to preserve peace and stability along the LAC. China has maintained that the border situation is currently stable, while communication continues through both diplomatic and military channels.

Arunachal Pradesh Remains a Major Point of Dispute

Despite signs of improving engagement, significant differences remain between India and China. One of the key disputes concerns Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of what it calls “Zangnan.”

India has consistently rejected Beijing’s territorial claims over the northeastern state and maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.

With Doval and Wang Yi meeting face-to-face in Beijing, the 25th round of talks is being closely watched for any progress on the boundary issue and the broader India-China relationship. The continuation of high-level dialogue is being viewed as a sign that both sides remain committed to managing differences through negotiations, even as several core disputes remain unresolved.