Military trust key to better Sino-Indian ties

Defense Minister Wei Fenghe's ongoing four-day visit to India, which started on Tuesday, marks another major step forward in efforts by the two countries to rebuild trust between the two militaries, one year after a 73-day military standoff in Donglang.

The standoff, which came to an end only after the two armies agreed to disengage following diplomatic intervention, plunged bilateral relations to a low unseen for many years.

Yet the fact that it ended peacefully thanks to both sides upholding established rules of conduct along their disputed border reflects the resilience in their relations. It also underscores the importance of the two militaries maintaining strategic communication to avoid any misjudgment that could threaten peace and tranquility along their 3,500-kilometer border, which is yet to be delimited.