Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on steps to de-escalate tensions with the People’s Republic of China along the Line of Actual Control; what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of progress of the disengagement agreement between the governments of India and China; and steps he is taking to monitor the political situation in that region.

On 24 June The Prime Minister expressed his concern at increased tensions between China and India. We welcome recent progress between India and China to manage tensions along their disputed border and the commitment on 5 July by Indian and Chinese Special Representatives on 'the Boundary Question' to disengage troops along the Line of Actual Control and de-escalate the border areas. We encourage both sides to maintain dialogue and continue to monitor the situation closely.