LADAKH, 24 January, 2021, (TON): Indian and Chinese armies on Sunday held ninth round of Corps Commander-level talks after a gap of over two-and-half months with an aim to move forward on disengagement of troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh, Indian media reported.

The talks held at Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

The Indian delegation at talks is being led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps.

The eighth and last round of military talks took place on November 6 at Chushul during which both sides broadly discussed disengagement of troops from specific friction points.

The region has been a sore spot in India-China relations since the 1962 Sino-Indian war, from which the current LAC was drawn.

During the last two rounds of talks, China insisted that India vacate the hilltops it has occupied near Chushul, and on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso lake, through which the LAC runs. Whereas, India has insisted on a resolution that covers the entire region.

On June 15, 2020 two nuclear powers China and India were on the brink of a fight over their disputed border. The incident was followed by rising tensions and was the first deadly clash in the border area in at least 45 years.

India has accused China of sending thousands of troops into Ladakh's Galwan valley and says China occupies 38,000sq km (14,700sq miles) of its territory. Several rounds of talks in the last three decades have failed to resolve the boundary disputes.

The two countries have fought only one war so far, in 1962, when India suffered a humiliating defeat.