Context:

India and China have agreed on a five-point course of action to disengage and reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where their troops have been engaged in a four and a half month-long stand-off.

About the Five Point Action Plan

• It aims to ease tensions between India and China. Both sides agreed to strengthen communication ties, avoid actions that would escalate tensions between the two countries, and refrain from sending more troops to the border.
• The five-point plan is to
• Not allow differences to become disputes
• Disengaging quickly to ease tensions.
• Abiding by the existing India-China border protocols and avoiding escalatory action.
• Continuing the dialogue between Special Representatives National Security Advisers as well as the other mechanisms.
• Working towards new confidence-building measures (CBMs).

How significant is the development?

• It reiterates the process of dialogue, disengagement, and easing of the situation. All this was comprehensively dealt with in the previous five agreements given below:
• The 1993 ‘Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility Agreement’ forms the basis of all follow-up agreements.
  • 1996 ‘Confidence Building Measures’ denounced the use of force
  • 2005 ‘Standard Operating Procedures’ and patrolling modalities.
  • 2012 ‘Process of Consultation and Cooperation.
  • 2013 ‘Border Cooperation Agreement’, signed as a sequel to Depsang intrusion by PLA.

Boundary disputes with China

• Aksai Chin: Located in the northwestern part of the Tibetan Plateau, it is approximately 35,241 sq km in size, administered by China and part of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. India considers it a part of its union territory of Ladakh.
• Depsang Plains: The Depsang Plains are located on the border of the union territory of Ladakh and the disputed zone of Aksai Chin. The Chinese Army controlled most of the plains during its 1962 war with India, while India controls the western portion of the plains.
• Demchok, Chumar: Both in the Leh district of Ladakh, controlled by India.
• Kartik, Shipki La: In the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
• Nerang, PulamSumda, Sang, Jadhang, and Lapthal: In the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
• Barahoti: In the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand whose grazing fields are disputed by China, which is also in the state of Uttarakhand and is controlled by India.
• Trans-Karakoram Tract: An area of nearly 5,800 square kilometers (2,239 sq mi) along both sides of the ShaksgamRiver, is entirely administered by China as a part of Kargilik County in the Kashgar Prefecture of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.
• Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India created on Jan. 20, 1972, and located in the far northeast. The majority of the territory is claimed by China as part of South Tibet.