India, Aug. 27 -- Twenty-five rounds of India-China boundary talks have produced an important thaw in relations, but little movement on the boundary itself

The 25th round of India-China Special Representative talks unfolded in Beijing on August 25, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holding what both readouts called candid, in-depth discussions on the boundary question. Doval called on Vice-President Han Zheng beforehand; Wang spoke of deepening trust and removing "disturbances." The timing was deliberate: Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping are due to meet twice in three weeks, first at the SCO summit in Bishkek, then at the BRICS summit New Delhi hosts on September 12-13.

The headway is rea...