Editing Line of Actual Control (section)

== Clarification of the LAC ==
{{OSM Location map
| float = right
| height= 200
| width= 250
| zoom = 5  <!--(1=whole world, 18=a street)-->
| nolabels = 1
| caption = Northern and middle sector. <small>Red dots represent [[File:Red pog.svg|10px]] sensitive and disputed locations, and locations of [[Differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control|differing perceptions]], on the LAC— such as [[Depsang Plains|Depsang]], area of [[Kongka Pass]], north of [[Chang Chenmo River|Kugrang River]], north and south [[Pangong Tso]], [[Spanggur Tso|Spanggur Gap]], opposite [[Dumchele]], [[Demchok sector]], [[Kaurik]], [[Tashigang, Himachal Pradesh|Tashigang]], [[Barahoti]]..</small><ref name="IE LAC flaspoints" /><ref name="ET LAC locations" /><ref name="TOI LAC locations" />
| coord = {{coord|33.450|79.058}}
| mark-coord  = {{coord|35.4444|78.0300}} |label =North Samar Lungpa  |label-pos  = left  | mark-size  = 8| mark  = Red pog.svg | mark-title =  North of Samar Lungpa | mark-description= | label-size = 10 |label-angle=

| mark-coord1 = {{coord|34.3352449| 79.0357722}}| caption1 = Area of Kongka La|label1=Area of Kongka La|label-pos1 = right | mark-size1 = 8 | mark-title1 =  Area of Kongka La | mark-description1= | label-size1 =10

| mark-coord2 = {{coord|34.3780|78.8463}}| caption2 =North of Kugrang River|label2=North of Kugrang River |label-pos2 = left  | mark-size2 = 8| mark2 = Red pog.svg | mark-title2 =  North of Kugrang River | mark-description2= | label-size2 = 10

| mark-coord3 = {{coord|33.7049|78.7435}}| caption3 =North and South Pangong Tso |label3=N&S Pangong Tso    |label-pos3 =left| mark-size3 = 8| mark3 = Red pog.svg | mark-title3 =  North and South Pangong Tso | mark-description3= | label-size3 = 10

| mark-coord4 = {{coord|33.5537700| 78.7400436}}| caption4 = Spanggur Gap|label4=Spanggur Gap |label-pos4 = right  | mark-size4 = 8| mark4 = Red pog.svg | mark-title4 =  Spanggur Gap | mark-description4= | label-size4 = 10

| mark-coord5 = {{coord|33.3203848| 79.0269091 }}| caption5 =East of Mt Sajum  |label5= East of Mt Sajum |label-pos5 = left | mark-size5 = 8| mark5 = Red pog.svg | mark-title5 =  Mt Sajum | mark-description5=East of Mt Sajum opposite Dumchele | label-size5 = 10

| mark-coord6 = {{coord|33.0761915| 79.1687747}}| caption6 = opposite Dumchele|label6=opposite Dumchele |label-pos6 = right | mark-size6 = 8| mark6 = Red pog.svg   | label-color6 =  | mark-title6 =  Dumchele | mark-description6=East of Mt Sajum opposite Dumchele| label-size6 = 10

| mark-coord7 = {{coord|32.6453217| 78.5924985}}| caption7 = Chumar|label7=Chumar |label-pos7 = left | mark-size7 = 8| mark7 = Red pog.svg   | label-color7 = | mark-title7 =  Chumar | mark-description7=| label-size7 = 10

| mark-coord8 = {{coord|32.7040811| 79.4467432}}| caption8 =Demchok  |label8=Demchok    |label-pos8 = right | mark-size8 = 8| mark8 = Red pog.svg   | label-color8 =| mark-title8 =  Demchok| mark-description8=| label-size8 = 10

| mark-coord9 = {{coord|35.1648| 78.0606}}| caption9 = Trig Heights |label9= Trig Heights |label-pos9 = right | mark-size9 = 8| mark9 = Red pog.svg   | label-color9 = | mark-title9=  Trig Heights| mark-description9=| label-size9 = 10|label-angle9=

| mark-coord10 = {{coord|34.533333| 78.433333}}| caption10 =East of Point 6556 |label10= East of Point 6556 |label-pos10 = top | mark-size10 = 8| mark10 = Red pog.svg   | label-color10 = | mark-title10=  East of Point 6556| mark-description10=| label-size10 = 10|label-offset-y10=5

| mark-coord14 = {{coord|30.8333|79.9667}}| caption14 =Barahoti |label14= Barahoti |label-pos14 = right | mark-size14 = 8| mark14 = Red pog.svg   | label-color14 = | mark-title14=  Barahoti| mark-description14=| label-size14 = 10

| mark-coord15 = {{coord|31.8401|78.69669}}| caption15 =Tashigang |label15= Tashigang |label-pos15 = right | mark-size15 = 8| mark15 = Red pog.svg   | label-color15 = | mark-title15=  Tashigang| mark-description15=| label-size15 = 10

| mark-coord16 = {{coord|32.096|78.673}}| caption16 =Kaurik |label16= Kaurik |label-pos16 = right | mark-size16 = 8| mark16 = Red pog.svg   | label-color16 = | mark-title16=  Kaurik| mark-description16=| label-size16 = 10
}}

{{OSM Location map
| float = right
| height= 150
| width= 250
| zoom = 5  <!--(1=whole world, 18=a street)-->
| nolabels = 1
| caption = Eastern sector (Sikkim not shown). <small>Red dots represent [[File:Red pog.svg|10px]] sensitive and disputed locations, and locations of [[Differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control|differing perceptions]], on the LAC and tri-junction areas— Locations include [[Asaphila]], [[Doklam]], [[Longju]], [[Sumdorong Chu]], [[Jaldhaka River|Dichu area]], [[Doklam]].</small><ref name="IE LAC flaspoints">{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Sushant |title=De-escalation process underway: 2 LAC flashpoints are not in list of identified areas still contested |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-china-ladakh-border-lac-galwan-6441494/ |work=The Indian Express |date=4 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="ET LAC locations">{{cite news |last1=Gurung |first1=Shaurya Karanbir |title=Indian Army focussing on locations along LAC where Doklam-like flashpoints could happen  |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-army-focussing-on-locations-along-lac-where-doklam-like-flashpoints-could-happen/articleshow/62593521.cms |work=Economic Times |date=21 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="TOI LAC locations">{{cite news |last1=Kalita |first1=Prabin |title=Defence forces on toes in six areas along LAC in Arunachal Pradesht |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/defence-forces-on-toes-in-six-disputed-areas-along-lac-in-arunachal-pradesh/articleshow/78198640.cms |work=The Times of India |date=19 September 2020}}</ref>
| coord = {{coord|27.810|94.427}}

| mark-coord11 = {{coord|28.43|93.17}}| caption11 =Asaphila |label11= Asaphila |label-pos11 = left | mark-size11 = 8| mark11 = Red pog.svg   | label-color11 = | mark-title11=  Asaphila| mark-description11=| label-size11 = 10

| mark-coord13 = {{coord|28.6404|93.3817}}| caption13 =Longju |label13= Longju |label-pos13 = left| mark-size13 = 8| mark13 = Red pog.svg   | label-color13 = | mark-title13=  Longju| mark-description13=| label-size13 = 10|label-offset-y13=-3

| mark-coord18 = {{coord|27.7818|91.7813}}| caption18 =Sumdorong Chu  |label18= Sumdorong Chu  |label-pos18 = right | mark-size18 = 8| mark18 = Red pog.svg   | label-color18 = | mark-title18=  Sumdorong Chu | mark-description18=| label-size18 = 10|label-offset-y18=-2

| mark-coord20= {{coord|28.2077998|97.2838434}}| caption20 =Dichu area  |label20= Dichu area  |label-pos20 = left | mark-size20 = 8| mark20 = Red pog.svg   | label-color20 = | mark-title20=  Dichu area | mark-description20=| label-size20 = 10

| mark-coord21= {{coord|29.0628031|96.1671497}}| caption21 =Fish-Tail -I   |label21= Fish-Tail -I   |label-pos21 = right | mark-size21 = 8| mark21 = Red pog.svg   | label-color21 = | mark-title21=  Fish-Tail -I  | mark-description21=| label-size21 = 10

| mark-coord22= {{coord|28.5137267|96.4185297}}| caption22 =Fish-Tail -II |label22= Fish-Tail -II  |label-pos22 = right | mark-size22 = 8| mark22 = Red pog.svg   | label-color22 = | mark-title22=  Fish-Tail -II | mark-description22=| label-size22 = 10

| mark-coord23= {{coord|28.8481|94.0435}}| caption23 =Lamang(?) |label23= Lamang  |label-pos23 = left | mark-size23 = 8| mark23 = Red pog.svg   | label-color23 = | mark-title23=  Lamang | mark-description23=| label-size23 = 10|label-offset-y23=-5

| mark-coord24= {{coord|28.9458|95.3285}}| caption24 =Dibang Valley |label24= Dibang  |label-pos24 = bottom| mark-size24 =8| mark24 = Red pog.svg   | label-color24 = | mark-title24=  Dibang Valley | mark-description24=| label-size24 = 10|label-offset-y24=-3
}}
In article 10 of the 1996 border agreement, both sides agreed to the exchange of maps to help clarify the alignment of the LAC.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Agreement between India and China on Confidence-Building Measures in the Military Field along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas |url=https://peacemaker.un.org/chinaindiaconfidenceagreement96 |access-date=2021-02-27 |website=peacemaker.un.org}}</ref> It was only in 2001 when the first in-depth discussion would take place with regard to the central/middle sectors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixit |first=J. N. |author-link=Jyotindra Nath Dixit |date=17 July 2001 |title=Talks Know No Boundaries |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/talks-know-no-boundaries/cid/927070 |website=Telegraph India}}</ref><ref name="Pandey">{{Cite news |last=Pandey |first=Utkarsh |date=16 December 2020 |title=The India-China Border Question: An Analysis of International Law and State Practices |url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-india-china-border-question/ |website=ORF }}</ref> Maps of Sikkim were exchanged, resulting in the "Memorandum on Expanding Border Trade".<ref name="Pandey"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Documents signed between India and China during Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit to China (June 23, 2003) |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/7692 |access-date=2021-02-27 |website=www.mea.gov.in}}</ref> However the process of exchange of maps soon collapsed in 2002–2003 when other sectors were brought up.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 November 2002 |agency=PTI |title=India, China exchange maps to resolve border dispute |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/india-china-exchange-maps-to-resolve-border-dispute/articleshow/29781150.cms |website=The Times of India }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Joshi |first=Manoj |date=8 June 2020 |title=Indo-China row signals breakdown of confidence building measures |url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/indo-china-row-signals-breakdown-of-confidence-building-measures-67469/ |website=ORF }}</ref> [[Shivshankar Menon]] writes that a drawback of the process of exchanging maps as a starting point to clarify the LAC was that it gave both sides an "incentive to exaggerate their claims of where the LAC lay".{{sfnp|Menon, Choices|2016|p=21 (ebook)}}

On 30 July 2020, the Chinese Ambassador to India [[Sun Weidong]] stated that China was not in favour of clarifying the LAC anymore as it would create new disputes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishnan |first=Ananth |date=2020-07-30 |title=Clarifying LAC could create new disputes: Chinese envoy |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/clarifying-lac-could-create-new-disputes-chinese-envoy/article32232724.ece |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Similar viewpoints have been aired in India that China will keep the boundary dispute alive for as long as it can be used against India.{{sfnp|Menon, Choices|2016|p=32–34}} On the other hand, there have been voices which say that clarifying the LAC would be beneficial for both countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Travis |date=2019-05-10 |title=Clarify and Respect the Line of Actual Control |url=https://www.stimson.org/2019/clarify-and-respect-line-actual-control/ |website=Stimson Center }}</ref>