Territory - Indian Border

The "great neighbours" (in the "syrupy" words of China's ambassador to India) of China and India held the 13th round of talks over their border dispute. Before the talks, a Chinese FM spokeswoman took the unusual step of denying a report in Hong Kong's Ming Pao Daily which suggested that China was prepared to swap disputed areas with India so that China would have only 28% of the disputed territory. During the negotiations, China reportedly insisted on her claim to the monastery town of Tawang, whilst India argued the Chinese claim went against the 2005 agreement between the two countries on political parameters and guiding principles for the settlement of the border dispute. The Indian argument is interesting, since Article VII of the Agreement provides only that "[i]n reaching a boundary settlement, the two sides shall safeguard due interests of their settled populations in the border areas."

Indian military reportedly deployed extra troops and fighter jets in the area.