Special Representative mechanism on the India–China boundary question

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in the capacity of Minister of External Affairs of India, had first suggested the SR mechanism during his visit to China in 1979.

[1] During another visit to China by Vajpayee, this time in the capacity of Prime Minister, in June 2003, the mechanism was mentioned in an agreement between the two countries.

The latest mention of the SR mechanism was in a joint press statement between India and China on 10 September 2020.

[2][3] During the 4th round of talks in 2004, Dai Bingguo suggested that the SR mechanism follow a 3 step formula for the settlement of the India–China boundary question:[2] The first step was completed with the Agreement on the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India–China Boundary Question being signed in 2005.

[15] Sinologist B. R. Deepak says that within three years, the SR mechanism, along with other CBMs, were redundant and consistently violated.

The China–India border, showing two large disputed areas in Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh and several smaller disputes (a map by the CIA )
SRs Dai Bingguo and J. N. Dixit in 2004, 3rd round of talks
SRs Dai Bingguo and M. K. Narayanan in 2006, 7th round of talks