Tag: India-China border standoff

Chinese Army’s Tawang intrusion: A timeline of India-China clashes since 2019

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Several Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured when the troops from both countries clashed at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 before disengaging, the Army said on Monday.

The December 9 face-off, which is the first major incident since the bloody Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh on June 15, 2020, occurred when 300-400 soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) intruded the LAC in the Tawang sector and Indian troops responded “in a firm and resolute manner”, the Army said in a statement.

Troops from both sides suffered injuries and immediately disengaged from the area.

At least six injured Indian soldiers were shifted to the military hospital in Guwahati, The Times of India reported quoting a source.

ALSO READ: India-China conflict: Rajnath Singh says no soldier died, will do anything to maintain territorial integrity

On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari to discuss the India-China border clash.

The chiefs of three defence services and CDS Chauhan are believed to have briefed the defence minister on the security situation along LAC with China, News18 reported.

The defence minister later told the Parliament that Indian forces were “committed to guarding our borders” and that the matter was being discussed with China through diplomatic channels.

“I want to assure the House that our forces are committed to guarding our borders and ready to thwart any attempt that will be made to challenge it,” Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

Here is a look at a timeline of India-China clashes since 2019.

May 2020: On May 5-6, Indian and Chinese patrols clashed on the northern bank of Ladakh’s Pangong Tso Lake. Videos showed soldiers of both countries engaging in fistfights, throwing stones at each other and Chinese troops attacking Indian soldiers with nail-studded clubs.

ALSO READ: What triggered the India-China clash at Tawang in Arunachal? Officials explain

On May 9, soldiers engage in a heated confrontation in north Sikkim’s Naku La area. Seven Chinese and four Indian soldiers were injured. On May 12, there were reports of tensions building up in Galwan Valley.

China’s foreign ministry accused Indian troops of trespassing on the LAC on May 19. India refuted the contention on May 21.

By May 25, China brought in nearly 5,000 soldiers on its side of the disputed border in the Ladakh sector. India also sent military reinforcements.

June 2020: A rare meeting was held between top military officers, Major General Liu Lin, commander of the People’s Liberation Army in South Xinjiang region, and Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of Leh-based 14 Corps, on June 6. The two discussed the de-escalation plan.

On June 15, India and China engaged in the deadliest clash in 45 years in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the clash, which led to a military stand-off with China and several rounds of military talks for the disengagement process. Sources in the Indian army said soldiers died in a physical fight that involved stones and batons and was not shot at.

July 2020: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ladakh and lauded the bravery of Indian troops.

January 2021: Another clash between the two troops left soldiers from both sides injured. The clash occurred along the border between China and India’s Sikkim state, which lies between Bhutan and Nepal. Indian soldiers foiled an attempt by the Chinese to intrude across the border in Sikkim. At least 20 PLA soldiers were reportedly injured in the clash.

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February 2021: For the first time since the clash, China acknowledged that five Chinese military officers and soldiers were killed in the Galwan region. The first breakthrough in the series of talks at the military and the diplomatic level was achieved when China’s defence ministry said that troops from both countries on the southern and northern shores of Pangong Tso have started “synchronised and organised disengagement”. The agreement was reached in the ninth round of military talks between Corps Commanders in January 2021.

August 2021: A hotline is established between ground commanders in Kongra La in north Sikkim and Khamba Dzong in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

October 2021: Talks between Indian and Chinese military commanders to resolve a protracted standoff broke down. Both countries blamed each other for the failure to make progress.

December 2021: Despite official disengagement at the friction points of Galwan, Gogra and Pangong Tso, satellite images showed China was building infrastructure to beef up forces in Ladakh.

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Will not agree to any change in status quo: S Jaishankar on eastern Ladakh standoff

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India is engaged in talks with China on the eastern Ladakh border standoff with absolute clarity that it will not agree to any change in the status quo or any attempt to unilaterally alter the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. In an interactive session at a think-tank in Paris, Jaishankar said he was optimistic about resolving the issue through dialogue and that significant headway has been made in many of the friction points following talks between military commanders of the two sides.

“We are absolutely clear that we will not agree to any change in the status quo. Any attempt to change the LAC unilaterally by one side. So however complex it is, however long it takes, however difficult it is, I think that clarity is what guides us,” he said on Tuesday. Jaishankar said achieving disengagement is the goal right now and that he was optimistic about the resolution of the issues.

“I would say other than optimism, it is very important to have perseverance. Believe me, I have got those qualities in reasonable measure and my system has it in the reasonable measure which is more important,” he said. “We will carry on with this and disengagement is right now the goal. Because it is only when disengagement happens we can then start talking about de-escalation,” he added. Jaishankar arrived in Paris on Sunday on a three-day trip after paying a two-day visit to Germany.

Also Read | Current situation at LAC arisen due to disregard of written agreements by China: Jaishankar

The external affairs minister said that both sides held several rounds of talks between military commanders with a focus on disengagement. “As a result of that, we have made significant headway in many of the friction points. There are some frictions points that still remained to be resolved. It has its complexity because these are areas where there are claims and then there are various military considerations which become the subject of the conversation,” he said.

The 14th round of military talks had taken place last month during which India pressed for an early disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points.

Jaishankar asserted that India is approaching the matter with clarity. “I am optimistic. I am optimistic temperamentally because if you are into diplomacy and negotiations, it is completely necessary that you are optimistic,” he said.

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The border standoff in eastern Ladakh erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. The face-off escalated after the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15, 2020. Following the clashes, both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in Gogra as well as in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake last year. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.

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No breakthrough in 14th round of India-China border talks: both sides agree to maintain dialogue

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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There was no breakthrough in the 14th round of talks between the militaries of India and China and the two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue to work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest, according to a joint statement.

Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane had said on Wednesday that India was hopeful of resolving issues related to disengagement at Patrolling Point 15 (Hot Springs) in eastern Ladakh in the 14th round of talks. The 14th round India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on Wednesday.

Representatives from the defense and foreign affairs establishments of the two sides were present at the meeting, the joint statement said. “The two sides had a frank and in-depth exchange of views for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector (Ladakh border),” it mentioned. They agreed that both sides should follow “the guidance provided by the state leaders” and work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest, it stated.

“It was noted that this would help in restoration of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and enable progress in bilateral relations,” it mentioned. The two sides also agreed to consolidate on the previous outcomes and take effective efforts to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector including during winter, it said. “The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” it mentioned.

The two sides agreed that the next round of the commanders’ talks should be held at the earliest, the statement said. The 13th round of talks had taken place on October 10 last year and it had ended in a stalemate.

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India questions China’s claim of being a developing nation; all you need to know

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India has questioned China’s claim that it is a developing country in the latest round of its trade policy review at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

India claims that China’s per capita income belongs to upper middle income country as per the definition of the World Bank, Business Standard reported.

The World Bank definition

The World Bank defines an upper middle-income country as one which has a per capita income of $4,096 to $12,695. Those with per capita income of $12,696 and above are considered high income countries. According to the Business Standard report, China’s per capita income in 2020 stood at $10,435. United States with $63,413 per capita income is considered a high income nation, while India, with a per capita income of $1928, is in the group of low middle income nations.

What are the advantages of “developing country” status?

According to the World Trade Organisation website, countries with the developing country status enjoy certain rights such as longer transition periods for implementing agreements and technical assistance.

On account of the rapid economic progress, the US has been demanding that India and China voluntarily give up the benefits offered to developing countries at the WTO. However, both the countries have opposed the move.

China’s reply

China has highlighted the lack of a proper definition by international organisations and said the concept of a developing country was relative to developed nations.

At present, members of the WTO themselves assign the “developed” or “developing” country status. Others can challenge a country’s declared status. The country declaring itself as a “developing” nation can take advantage of the provisions available to such countries.

In December, China’s ambassador to the WTO Li Chenggang told Reuters in an interview that Beijing was willing to forego many of the benefits even though it would retain its “developing” country status at the global trade body.

On account of lingering poverty, China still considers itself a developing country despite the strong growth, Li Chenggang had said. However, he declined to say when the country would completely cease to consider itself a developing country.

Others have raised alarm too

India is not the only one to question China’s developing country status. The US has also criticised its developing country status and said it was unfair of Beijing to avail preferential treatment intended for poorer countries.

Brazil, Indonesia and the European Union too raised an alarm over the issue.

India had sought an explanation of China’s claim that it has shifted “from a stage of high-speed growth to a stage of high-quality development”. In reply, China said ‘high-quality development’ will include a new development concept with innovation as the first driving force.

Also Read: 2021 – an year of record trade amid frozen India-China ties

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New satellite image shows China constructing bridge on its side of Pangong lake in Ladakh: Sources

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A new satellite image showing China building a bridge on its side of the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh emerged on Monday amid the prolonged Sino-India military standoff in the border area.

People familiar with the development said the satellite imagery is of an area on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control(LAC) near the Galwan valley region.

The armies of India and China had created a buffer zone in Galwan valley following their deadly clashes on 15 June 2020.

On 1 January, Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets and greetings at 10 border posts along the LAC including in eastern Ladakh to mark the New Year.

The sources said the bridge is at a distance of around 40 km from the alignment of the LAC in the region and that India has also been developing infrastructure in the region at a rapid pace.

Geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon posted a satellite image on Twitter suggesting that the new bridge was being constructed by China to link the North and South banks of Pangong lake.

Military experts said the aim of constructing the bridge in the Khurnak area could be to ensure that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army(PLA) is able to quickly mobilise its troops in the region.

The Indian military sources said India has been developing infrastructure in all key areas along the LAC and that India is aware of Chinese activities in the region.

Last week, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Chisumle-Demchok road at Umling La Pass at over 19,000 feet in Ladakh that is considered as a key stretch for military purpose.

China has been focusing on strengthening its military infrastructure after Indian troops took control of several strategic peaks on the southern bank of Pangong lake in August 2020 after the Chinese PLA attempted to intimidate them in the area.

The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the armies of India and China erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.

Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.

Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.

The 13th round of Corps Commander-level military talks in October ended in a stalemate with the Indian Army saying that the “constructive suggestions” made by it were not agreeable to the Chinese side.

The defence ministry last Friday said it held several rounds of military talks with the Chinese side to deescalate the situation in eastern Ladakh without compromising on its stand of “complete disengagement and immediate restoration of status quo ante”.

India has been insisting on returning to the status quo that existed before the face-off erupted.

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Beijing announces official Chinese names for 15 more places in Arunachal Pradesh

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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China has announced Chinese characters, Tibetan and Roman alphabet names for 15 more places in India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as South Tibet. China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs announced on Wednesday that it had standardised in Chinese characters, Tibetan and Roman alphabet the names of 15 places in Zangnan, the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh, state-run Global Times reported on Thursday.

This is in accordance with regulations on geographical names issued by the State Council, China’s cabinet, the report added. Among the official names of the 15 places, which were given exact longitude and latitude, eight are residential places, four are mountains, two are rivers and one is a mountain pass, the report said.

This is the second batch of standardised names of places in Arunachal Pradesh given by China. The first batch of the standardised names of six places was released in 2017. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet which is firmly rejected by the External Affairs Ministry which says the state is an inseparable part of India”.

Beijing routinely protests visits of top Indian leaders and officials to Arunachal Pradesh to reaffirm its claim. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The eight residential places in the second batch are Sngkezong and Daglungzong in Cona County of Shannan Prefecture, Mani’gang, Duding and Migpain in Medog County of Nyingchi, Goling, Damba in Zayu County of Nyingchi, and Mejag in Lhunze County of Shannan Prefecture, the Global Times report said. The four mountains are Wamo Ri, Du Ri, Lhnzhub Ri and Kunmingxingz Feng, it said.

The two rivers are Xenyogmo He and Dulain He, and the mountain pass is named Se La, in Cona County. The report quoted Lian Xiangmin, stated to be an expert with the China Tibetology Research Centre in Beijing, claiming that the announcement is part of the national survey on place names that have existed for hundreds of years. It is a legitimate move and China’s sovereignty to give them standardised names. More standardised place names in the region will be announced in the future, Lian said.

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Top News of Nov 11: India rejects China’s occupation of its territory; Nykaa’s incredible journey; Paytm’s struggle and more

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India on Thursday said it has neither accepted China’s illegal occupation of its territory nor any unjustified Chinese claims. Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has advised central banks to tread cautiously on increasing interest rates, warning sudden moves could create a “wealth shock.” Arvind Sanger, the managing partner of Geosphere Capital Management told CNBC-TV18 that a lot of big initial public offers are sucking out liquidity from the market. here are some top news of the day

ECONOMY/BUSINESS

India’s current account deficit to hit 1.4% by March, says report

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Nykaa gives up listing gains; buy or sell?

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Big IPOs draining market liquidity

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 Paytm IPO: India’s biggest IPO struggles to raise money

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INDIA

Biden cites India to explain complexity of global supply chain

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Karnataka to expedite nine railway projects

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Haven’t accepted China’s illegal occupation: India

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INTERNATIONAL

China’s real estate mess can put global economy on crutches

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China’s leader Xi Jinping warns against ‘Cold War’ 

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India-China standoff: Pentagon report articulates not only India’s but also USA’s concerns, says former diplomat

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A Pentagon report on China has outlined China’s military strategy during the border standoff with India as well as China’s strategy on the likely offensive against Taiwan. The Pentagon report shows that China installed an optic fibre network in the western Himalayas during the border standoff in Ladakh. The country also built 100-home villages along the LAC near Arunachal Pradesh in 2020.

Ambassador Anil Trigunyat, former diplomat and Distinguished Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation, and Brahma Chellaney, strategic affairs expert, spoke to CNBC-TV18 on the report.

Chellaney said reports have been coming in from the grassroots over many years that the Chinese are slowly encroaching into the areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, in particular. “We have seen Arunachal Pradesh MLAs, ministers and even the chief minister pointing out the Chinese encroachment strategy. Similarly, in Ladakh, metre by metre, mile by mile, the Chinese have been encroaching,” he said.

Talking about the significance of the report from the Pentagon, he said there is a law that provides legitimacy to such a strategy. This law — the land borders law, clearly specifies state support for establishing civilian border settlements, as is already happening along the Himalayan borders with India, with Bhutan, and even with Nepal. In fact, this law specifically calls for strengthening the building of mass defence groups.

He further said almost overnight, villages are being created. These villages are being inhabited by Tibetan nomads, who have been uprooted from the traditional pastures. They have been made to settle in these desolate, uninhabited areas. And to look after these Tibetan nomads, the Chinese are bringing in Han Chinese overseers. They oversee, supervise and manage the so-called new villages. So this is a strategy that has been unfolding for a while.
“Unfortunately, our response has been rather laid back in the sense that we have been getting these reports for so many years, that this is how the Chinese are pursuing their strategy, and yet there has been no Indian counter to that, said Chellaney.

The Ministry of External Affairs had reacted to by saying this will complicate boundary negotiations. So, could this worsen the border standoff considering the kind of infrastructure development?

The Pentagon report also speaks about optical fibre cables being laid in 2020. An important line from the Pentagon report says that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) accelerated training and fielding of equipment from the already fast pace of recent years.

Also Read: Indian troops on high alert after China’s Twitter posts threaten military action in Arunachal: Report

So when asked if he thought that China is in no mood to resolve the situation at this juncture, and if at all, it may worsen, Trigunyat said, “I fully agree with what Chellaney has said. China has been sitting pretty on about 43,000 acres of Indian Territory already that we claim. According to China, LAC means LINES AS PER CHINA, and therefore, the report about these 100 houses about five to six kilometres from Arunachal, they have been claiming for quite some time now. We have been having problems with Ladakh and China ever since the abrogation of Article 370. China has been very cagey about it and has started increasing the building of its infrastructure across the border. And they are in no mood really at the moment to try and resolve the situation.

“If you were to read the report properly, you will find that it very clearly articulates not only the Indian concern but also the US concern. The US is looking at us as a strategic rival or a competitor, and it is saying China considers it that way and is willing to replace the US hegemony, so to say, and so, it has connected the China-Taiwan issue or the Indian border issue, which also shows that it is the US is also trying to take a step forward in my view towards the South Asia pivot more so towards India and that sense of the term,” said Trigunyat, adding that this has been a known factor, India knows very well and India has also preparing along the border, maybe a little late in the day, but this is also one of the reasons that the Chinese always complained in their meetings that India has created these infrastructures “as if we will not do it in our side and they are sitting on our side in fact. So, we have to be very careful in this.”

The government of India’s policy has been to somehow continue with the dialogue, but at the same time strengthen our own defences – that is most important and that is what the Chinese also understand. But China has a grand plan as we all know – 2049 is the year in which China wants to become number one in my view, and it has given several dates, said Trigunyat.

For the full discussion, watch the video.s

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Explained: What is China’s new land border law  

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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China on October 23 passed a new law on the protection of its land border areas amid escalating tension with its neighbours, including India, along the international border.

The first national law on the protection of land borders of China aims to manage border-related matters at the legal level and to better maintain national security, according to Chinese state-owned media.

The new land border law will firm up the military-civilian role in defending the country’s borders and it mandates to combine the military defence with the social and economic development work in border areas. It will also strengthen the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) policy of working closely with civilians residing in the border areas. The civilians in border areas will work as the first line of defence.

The law asserts that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China are “sacred and inviolable.” The state will take measures to safeguard territorial integrity and land border security, mandates the law, according to the Global Times.

The state shall guard against and combat any act that undermines the territorial sovereignty, the Global Times report added.

Infrastructure development in border areas

The Land Border Law, which will come into effect from January 1, 2022, stipulates that the PLA along with the People’s Armed Police Force will organise, guide and coordinate the defence and control of land borders while maintaining social stability.

The law mandates the construction of border towns and improvement of the functioning of border towns. China has already started constructing several towns close to the border in Tibet which play a significant role in border defence, according to a recent Global Times report.

Also read: China increasing activities in depth areas opposite Arunachal, says top army official

By the end of 2020, over 600 well-appointed villages with accessible roads have been built. At least 130 border roads have also been built from scratch or reconstructed, covering a total length of 3,080 km, the report added.

The law also lays down that the state shall take measures to support economic and social development in border areas and improve public services. The state will have to support people’s life and work while coordinating the border defence and socio-economic development in such areas, the Global Times report added.

Border dispute with India 

China shares around 22,000 km of land border with 14 countries. While China has already resolved boundary issues with 12 neighbours, it is yet to finalise border agreements with India and Bhutan.

The new land border law has been passed by China in the backdrop of strained ties with India over the recent standoff between Indian and Chinese militaries in eastern Ladakh.

Also read: India-China standoff: Be patient, it’s a long-drawn-out game, say experts

India’s border disputes with China cover a 3,488-km long border along the Line of Actual Control.

China has been working on strengthening infrastructure in border areas, which includes road, rail and air networks. In June 2021, China launched its first fully-electrified bullet train in Tibet connecting Lhasa and Nyingchi, a strategic location on the Tibetan border close to Arunachal Pradesh.

Since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, tension along the Indo-Chinese international border has escalated. However, recently External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar remarked that the ability of India and China to work together will determine the Asian century, PTI had reported.

Consultation with neighbours

The new law says border disputes with neighbours will be resolved through the principles of equality, mutual trust and friendly consultation. China will carry out negotiations with neighbours to manage land border disputes and tackle long-standing issues.

However, the new law also mandates that China can close its border in case of war or any armed conflict that threatens its border security.

Also read: India boosts fire power in forward areas along LAC in Arunachal Pradesh sector

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow