Tag: India-China border standoff

China strengthens land border protection with new law amid standoff with India

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

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China passed a law on Saturday to strengthen border protection amid a protracted standoff with India, worries about spillover effects from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and the spread of COVID-19 from Southeast Asia.

The Land Borders Law will not necessarily change how border security is handled when the measure takes effect on January 1, but it reflects China’s growing confidence in its capability to manage its frontiers.

China has been closely watching neighbouring Afghanistan, where the Taliban returned to power in August, to guard against a possible inflow of refugees or Islamic extremists crossing over to link up with the Muslim Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang region.

Chinese soldiers have been in a standoff with Indian troops since April 2020. The country will “take effective measures to resolutely protect territorial sovereignty and land border security”, the law says.

This is the first time that the People’s Republic of China, founded 72 years ago, has a dedicated law specifying how it governs and guards its 22,000-km (14,000-mile) land border shared with 14 countries, including former superpower Russia and nuclear-capable North Korea.

Chinese military and military police – the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force – are responsible for guarding the border against any “invasion, encroachment, infiltration, provocation”.

The law stipulates that China can close its border if a war or other armed conflict nearby threatens border security.

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India-China standoff clashes: 20 ITBP personnel honoured with gallantry medals

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

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Twenty personnel of the India-China LAC guarding Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force, who displayed bravery during the violent clashes and ongoing military standoff between the two countries in the eastern Ladakh region in May-June 2020, were on Sunday decorated with police gallantry medals.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai pinned the medals on the chests of the personnel and handed them certificates during the 60th Raising Day celebrations of the force here.

These medals were announced on the eve of the Independence Day on August 14 this year. The central paramilitary is deployed shoulder-to-shoulder with the Army as part of its primary mandate to guard the 3,488 km-long icy Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Out of the 20, eight personnel have been awarded the police medal for gallantry (PMG) for their gallant act, meticulous planning and tactical insightfulness and for defending the motherland in Galwan Nalla on June 15 last year, an spokesperson for the force said. Six personnel have been awarded with the PMG for gallant action during violent face-off on May 18 in the Finger IV area while the rest six have been decorated with the same medal for their gallant action near Hot Springs in Ladakh on the same day, the force had said earlier.

It had said that in eastern Ladakh, the ITBP troops not only effectively used shields to protect themselves but also responded fiercely to Chinese PLA advancing troops and brought the situation under control during “fierce” face offs and skirmishes. “With highest order of professional skills, ITBP troops fought shoulder-to-shoulder and also brought the injured (Army) troops to the rear. “Even when the ITBP troops fought the whole night, they received minimum casualties by giving befitting reply to the stone pelters of the PLA,” the force said in their citation. At certain places, it said, they gave a “determined” standoff for about 17-20 hours throughout the intervening night (June 15-16) in extremely challenging conditions.

“Due to the high-altitude training and survival experience of the force at the icy Himalayan deployments, ITBP troops kept the PLA troops at bay and due to the all out and befitting response of ITBP troops at several fronts, many areas were safeguarded. “The ITBP troops showed highest level of devotion, courage, determination, utter disregard to personal safety even in injured condition and exhibited great professional skills in the face of violent physical scuffle with the PLA,” it had said.

Twenty Army soldiers were killed during these clashes while China has claimed the casualty figures on its side to be five, which is widely believed to be much higher. Three other ITBP personnel were also decorated with the PMG for displaying courage, grit and determination in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.

Deputy Inspector General (veterinary) Sudhakar Natarajan was also decorated with the police medal for meritorious service during the event for rendering exceptional service in the animal transport wing of the force, the lifeline for ensuring rations and logistics to its mountainous border deployments. Natarajan, who joined the ITBP in 1992, is credited with introducing the first batch of Belgian Malinois infantry patrol dogs in the ITBP, which was followed by all other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

The about 90,000 personnel strong ITBP was raised on this day in 1962 in the aftermath of the Chinese agression.

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Eastern Ladakh row: India, China hold 13th round of military talks

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

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After a gap of over two months, India and China on Sunday are holding another round of high-level military talks with an aim to move forward on the disengagement process in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, sources in the security establishment said. The 13th round of Corps Commander-level talks are taking place at the Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, they said.

The fresh round of talks is taking place over three weeks after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the two sides should work for an early resolution of the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh.

The two foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Dushanbe on September 16. The two sides held the 12th round of talks on July 31. Days later, the two armies completed the disengagement process in Gogra, which was seen as a significant forward movement towards the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the region.

The Indian delegation at Sunday’s talks was to be led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps. On Saturday, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane said if the Chinese military continues with its large-scale deployment in the eastern Ladakh region, then the Indian Army too will maintain its strength on its side which he said is “as good as what the PLA has done.” The fresh round of talks is taking place in the backdrop of two recent incidents of attempted transgressions by the Chinese troops with one in the Barahoti sector of Uttarakhand and another in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh.

Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a brief face-off near Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh around 10 days back and it was resolved within a few hours following talks between commanders of the two sides as per established protocols. Last month, close to 100 soldiers of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) transgressed the LAC in the Barahoti sector of Uttarakhand.

The transgression took place on August 30, and the Chinese troops returned from the area after spending a few hours. India has been insisting that resolution of outstanding issues including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra is essential for an overall improvement in ties between the two countries.

The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and 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 the Gogra area in August.

In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

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Changes in Afghanistan a challenge for India: Rajnath Singh

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

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The changing power equation in Afghanistan is a challenge for India, prompting a rethink of strategy and the Quad initiative underscored it, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday.

The Defence Ministry is seriously considering the formation of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) as quick decision-making is a key aspect during war time, he said addressing the Defence Service and Staff College at nearby Wellington.

“The changing equation in Afghanistan is a challenge for us…These situations have forced our country to rethink its strategy. We are changing our strategy and the formation of Quad underlines this strategy,” he said. Quad (Quadrilateral security dialogue) comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia. The Taliban insurgents stormed Afghanistan days ago capturing all major cities in a matter of days, two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a vexatious two-decade war and the Kabul airport attack has left dozens dead and many injured. On IBGs, the Minister said these groups would not only facilitate faster decision-making but also increase the number of integrated fighting units.

A reform initiative, ‘Tour of Duty’ was being considered by the government and it would be a game-changing reform as it would help reduce the average age of military and make it more agile. Without naming Pakistan, Singh said “After losing two wars, one of our neighbouring countries has started resorting to proxy war, and terrorism has become an integral part of its state policy.” “If the ceasefire (between India and Pakistan) succeeds today, it is because of our strength. The cross-border attacks in 2016 changed our reactionary mindset to a proactive mindset, which was declared in 2019. It was further strengthened by the Balakot air strike,” he added.

On the India-China border standoff, the Defence Minister lauded the Army for behaving intelligently and the security forces once again proved that the nation is committed to face any enemy at any time and in any situation, to ensure national security regardless of the cost. An unilateral attempt was made last year to change the status quo on the border. “There too, we faced our adversary with a new dynamism,” Singh said.

Changes in spheres like the military power, trade, communication, economy and political equation could be clearly seen. In this era of globalisation, no nation could be left untouched by these changes happening around the world, he said. In such a situation, keeping the nation’s security preparedness in proportion to these changes or a step ahead of them is the need.

“Ever since our country became independent it has been the endeavour of enemy forces to create an atmosphere of instability within the country through one or the other means. Taking the history of the last 75 years, it seems that we have inherited the challenges,” he added.

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India delivers diplomatically at the UNSC amidst US-China strategic rivalry

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

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The battle for mastery in the Indo-Pacific continues. The latest battleground is the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) virtual meeting on August 9th, which marked one of the highest levels of participation. The UN Security Council meeting convened under the agenda “Maintenance of International Peace & Security”, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was attended by several heads of state and government of UNSC member states, and foreign ministers, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as high-level briefers from the UN System and key regional organizations.

Despite China’s opposition, an unprecedented India-led UN Security Council session underscored the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The resolution denounced China’s operations in the South China Sea, which violated the UNCLOS, which defines the legal framework for maritime activities, including combating illegal activities at sea. The meeting is significant because India emerged as a stabiliser in the tussle over the resolution that sparked the heated debate between the US and Chinese representatives over the issue of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, where a great power contest for mastery of the region remains intense.

The arrival of an authoritarian and assertive China has heightened concerns about Indo-Pacific security and stability. Particularly concerning is China’s continued defiance of international laws governing free navigation and maritime trade in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Over the last decade, China has worked to build military infrastructure and consolidate its position in the South and East China Seas, as evidenced by the construction of artificial islands and the bullying of countries by its fishing militia. This became more pronounced during the COVID-19 outbreak, as evidenced by China’s aggressive behaviour toward the Philippines, Japan, and Vietnam, revealing its geopolitical intent to dominate the Indo-Pacific waters.

Despite the fact that the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ruled in 2016 that China’s operations in the South China Sea are illegal, Beijing has continued unabated, escalating tensions. The award issued by the Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea, which was constituted at the request of the Philippines, on July 12, 2016, was not accepted by China. According to China, the award is void ab initio and has no legal force. However, under international pressure, China agreed to establish UNCLOS precedence at the UNSC meeting.

Also Read: Narendra Modi became the first Indian PM to chair UNSC meet on August 9; what it means for India

The South China Sea has emerged as one of the major flashpoints in China’s fractious and intense relationship with the United States. Dissatisfied with the resolution, the Chinese delegation took advantage of the opportunity to criticize the Quad nations, accusing Japan of dumping Fukushima-contaminated water into the Pacific and requesting that the ASEAN countries develop a code of conduct. China’s illegal territorial claims in the resource-rich waters were rejected by US representative Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who also criticized China’s conduct in the South China Sea and its authoritative and assertive posture. During the debate, the strategic rivalry between the United States and China resurfaced. The UN Security Council virtual meeting is the second high-level diplomatic meeting where the US and China have exchanged sharp rebukes under the Biden administration, following the diplomatic row in Alaska. After successfully containing the outbreak at home, China saw an opportunity to challenge the US’s dominance in the Indo-Pacific but has encountered firm resistance from the US. The strategic rivalry between the hegemon and the challenger has since heated up.

What has been hailed as India’s first UNSC-chaired meeting, which called for collaborative efforts to develop a framework for addressing maritime challenges, India successfully used a consensus-building strategy, consulting all UNSC members to find the most acceptable phrasing of the resolution. All delegates applauded PM Modi’s five-point principles, which called for the UNSC to draft a plan for international maritime security. With its growing military power, India has emerged as a major player amid the intense US-China geopolitics and growing significance of the Indo-Pacific. India has also emerged as critical in the US and other developed nations’ efforts to repair the global supply chain, which the world has allowed China to dominate by default.

Also Read: China coercive, intimidating to back South China Sea claims, says US

India’s Indo-Pacific strategy has evolved. From the Look East strategy to the Act East strategy to the Indo-Pacific strategy, India has established itself as one of the leading Indo-Pacific powers. PM Modi’s visions for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and India’s growing strategic partnerships with the Quad members—the United States, Japan, and Australia—as well as like-minded China-wary Indo-Pacific nations such as Vietnam and South Korea under the ACT East strategy—are regarded as important Indo-Pacific strategies in ensuring the free nation’s effort for an open and secure Indo-Pacific.

India’s handling of the UNCLOS resolution at the UN Security Council strengthens New Delhi’s diplomatic prowess. China has used its veto power against India’s interests and has been the main impediment to India’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council, as Beijing is opposed to New Delhi’s inclusion in the UN’s highest decision-making body. During the recent India-China violent clash at the Galwan Valley on the Indo-Tibet border, India received substantial diplomatic support from major world powers, including four P5 members – the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Russia. The relationship between the two Asian giants has deteriorated, and their competitive relationship has further escalated amid the unfolding Indo-Pacific strategic geometry, as India’s security ties with the US, Japan, Australia, and Vietnam continue to strengthen.

Historically, the United Nations Security Council has been a battleground for great power rivalry. The growing economic and strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, which is regarded as critical to global prosperity in the twenty-first century, has sparked a great power competition, and the top global body will be a new battleground for mastery of the waters between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The author, Dr Ashok Sharma, is a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in the Department of the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre of Coral Bell School of Asia-Pacific Affairs; a Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy; and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra.

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India, China agree to resolve remaining issues in eastern Ladakh expeditiously: Joint statement

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

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The Indian and Chinese armies have agreed to resolve the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh in an “expeditious manner” and described their 12th round of military talks as “constructive”, according to a joint statement on Monday.

Two days after the India-China military talks, the joint statement, issued by the Indian Army said both sides had a “candid and in-depth exchange” relating to disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas.

“The two sides noted that this round of meeting was constructive, which further enhanced mutual understanding. They agreed to resolve these remaining issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations,” it added.

It said the two sides also agreed to continue effective efforts in ensuring stability along the LAC in the region and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity.

“The two sides also agreed that in the interim they will continue their effective efforts in ensuring stability along the LAC in the Western Sector and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity,” the statement added.

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India-China border issue: Two armies set up hotline for Sikkim sector

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

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A hotline has been set up between the Indian and Chinese armies in the North Sikkim sector to further boost confidence along the Line of Actual Control in the region, officials said on Sunday. The hotline is between the Indian Army in Kongra La, North Sikkim and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Khamba Dzong in Tibetan Autonomous Region, they said.

The Army said the hotline is aimed at furthering “the spirit of trust and cordial relations along the borders”. The opening of the hotline coincided with the PLA Day on August 1, it said.

“The armed forces of the two countries have well-established mechanisms for communication at ground commanders level,” the Army said. “These hotlines in various sectors go a long way in enhancing the same and maintaining peace and tranquility at the borders,” it said in a statement.

The inauguration of the hotline was attended by ground commanders of the two sides and a message of friendship and harmony was exchanged, the Army said. The setting up of the hotline came amid a continued standoff between the two armies in a number of friction points in eastern Ladakh.

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China ready to seek mutually acceptable solution to issues requiring ’emergency response’ at border: Wang to Jaishankar

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

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With India firmly conveying to China that the prolongation of the existing situation in eastern Ladakh was visibly impacting the bilateral ties in a “negative manner”, Beijing on Thursday said it is ready to seek a mutually acceptable solution to the issues that require “emergency response” through negotiation and consultation.

During their hour-long in-person meeting on the sidelines of an SCO conclave in Dushanbe on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also told his Chinese counterpart and State Councilor Wang Yi that any unilateral change in the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was “not acceptable” to India and that the overall ties can only develop after full restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh.

The meeting in Tajikistan’s capital took place amidst a stalemate in the disengagement process between the two militaries in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh after they withdrew troops and weapons from the Pangong Lake areas in February following series of military and diplomatic talks to resolve the standoff since May last year. In a statement posted on its website on Thursday on Wang’s talks with Jaishankar, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, the minister stated the overall situation in the border area has de-escalated after the withdrawal of troops from the Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake areas.

However, the relations between India and China are still at a low level which is not in the interest of either side, Wang said. While reiterating China’s stand that it was not responsible for the China-India border standoff, Wang, however, said that “China is ready to find a solution acceptable to both sides on the issue that needs emergency response through negotiation and consultation.” “The two sides must place the border issue in an appropriate position in bilateral relations, expand the positive momentum of bilateral cooperation and create favourable conditions for resolving differences through negotiation,” he said.

The nature of China-India relations is how two adjacent developing countries look at each other, co-exist in harmony and help each other succeed, he said. “China’s strategic assessment of China-India relations has not changed. China and India pose no threat but offer development opportunities to each other.

The two countries are partners rather than rivals or enemies,” the Chinese foreign minister said. The principles of China-India relations should still be mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and mutual respect for each other’s core interests, he said. The interaction between the two countries should still be seeking mutual benefits and complementarity, pursuing healthy competition and avoiding confrontation, with cooperation as the main theme, Wang said. While China moved its troops from Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso, the disengagement has not been completed from other friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang in eastern Ladakh.

In his meeting with Wang, Jaishankar firmly conveyed to that the prolongation of the existing situation in eastern Ladakh was visibly impacting the bilateral ties in a “negative manner” and rued that there was no forward movement from the Chinese side since the disengagement in Pangong Lake areas in February that had created conditions for resolving the remaining issues. Jaishankar told Wang that any unilateral change in the status quo along the LAC was “not acceptable” to India and that the overall ties can only develop after full restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh, according to statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on the talks.

Wang, according to the Chinese foreign ministry, also said that the two sides must consolidate the results of disengagement that have been achieved, strictly abide by the agreement and common understanding of the two sides, and “refrain from taking unilateral actions in sensitive and controversial areas, in order to avoid any recurrence of tensions due to misunderstanding and miscalculation.” “We must take a long-term perspective and gradually move from emergency response toward regular management and control, to avoid unnecessary interruptions of border-related issues to China-India relations,” he was quoted as saying by the Chinese foreign ministry statement. Recalling their last meeting in Moscow, in September 2020, Jaishankar also emphasised the need to follow through on the agreement reached then and complete the disengagement, resolving the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh at the earliest.

It has been reported that each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector. The Chinese foreign ministry statement pointed out that during the meeting between Wang and Jaishankar, both sides believe the two countries must lift bilateral relations out of the low level and achieve healthy and stable development. The two sides encourage strengthening consultations on the border issue through the existing mechanism to consolidate the achieved results, and working towards turning emergency response to regular management and control to safeguard the peace and tranquillity of the border area, the statement added.

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Situation along LAC normal since Feb disengagement: Army chief on Ladakh standoff

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

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The talks between India and China on the border row in eastern Ladakh have helped “build trust” and the situation in the region has been normal since the disengagement in the Pangong Tso areas in February, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane said on Thursday, exuding confidence of resolution of the “remaining issues”.

In a virtual interactive session at a think-tank, Gen Naravane, at the same time, said that the developments along the northern borders in the past year are a “stark reminder” that the armed forces need to continually prepare and adapt to the exigencies of modern wars to preserve India’s territorial integrity. “The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is normal ever since the disengagement took place in February this year from the northern and southern banks of Pangong lake as well as the Kailash ranges,” he said. “Since then, both sides have strictly adhered to in the letter and sprit the disengagement that was agreed upon. We are engaging the Chinese at various levels at the political level, at the diplomatic level and of course at the military level,” Gen Naravane added.

The Army Chief was asked to comment on the situation in eastern Ladakh. “This talk between us is going on and this has helped built trust between the two sides. And going ahead, we are sure that we will be able to resolve all the remaining issues,” he said.

Gen Naravane said the militaries of the two countries have been engaged in dialogue at various levels. “The developments along our northern borders during the past year are a stark reminder that in order to preserve our territorial integrity the armed forces need to continually prepare and adapt to the exigencies of modern wars,” he said.

The comments by the Army Chief came three days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India believes in resolving disputes with neighbours through dialogue but it will not tolerate if provoked or threatened. India and China on June 25 held another round of diplomatic talks on the border row during which they agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

At the virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs, the two sides had a “frank exchange” of views and decided to maintain dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable solution for withdrawal of troops in all friction points to enable progress in the overall ties, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). India and China were locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year. However, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points. India has been particularly pressing for disengagement of troops in Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang. According to military officials, each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control in the sensitive sector.

There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

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Rajnath Singh begins visit to Ladakh amid stalemate in disengagement process with China

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

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The dedication of Indian soldiers and veterans towards the country is an “exemplary example”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday soon after arriving in Ladakh on a three-day visit aimed at taking stock of India’s military preparedness in the region in the face of a prolonged border row with China. In Leh, Singh interacted with senior elected representatives of Kargil, Leh and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council with a focus on the overall development of the regions, officials said.

The Defence Minister, accompanied by Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, also met a number of armed forces veterans and discussed issues relating to their welfare as well as national security. “The dedication of our soldiers and veterans towards the country is an exemplary example. I express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart to all,” Singh said on the occasion.

“Our aim is that all of you should be taken care of in the same way you had taken care of the country’s security. Despite this, if you have any problems somewhere, then a helpline has been arranged for to address them,” his office quoted him as saying. Official sources said the Defence Minister will carry out a comprehensive review of India’s operational readiness in eastern Ladakh amid a stalemate in the next stage of disengagement with China at several friction points.

His visit to the sensitive region comes two days after India and China held a fresh round of diplomatic talks to resolve the prolonged military standoff that began in early May last year. The defence minister is scheduled to visit various key formations and high-altitude bases in the region to assess the ground realities as well as to boost the morale of the troops guarding the Line of Actual Control in a hostile environment.

It is Singh’s first visit to eastern Ladakh after the Indian and Chinese militaries pulled back troops, tanks, infantry and other equipment from the Pangong lake areas in February as part of an agreement. The disengagement process in the remaining friction points including Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang is deadlocked as China is reluctant to withdraw its troops from these areas.

At a virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs on Friday, India and China agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement in remaining friction points. Singh’s visit to the sensitive region comes amid fresh sparring between India and China over the standoff.

India on Thursday blamed China for the standoff saying its amassing of a large number of troops close to the border and attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC last year were responsible for seriously disturbing peace and tranquillity in the region. India’s response came after China said its military deployment in the region is a normal defence arrangement aimed at “preventing and responding” to “encroachment and threat” on Chinese territory by India.

India and China were locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year. However, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks. The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points. India has been particularly pressing for disengagement of troops in Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.

According to military officials, each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control in the sensitive sector. There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

Last month, Gen Naravane said that there can be no de-escalation without complete disengagement at all friction points in eastern Ladakh and that the Indian Army is prepared for all contingencies in the region. The Army Chief also said that India is dealing with China in a “firm” and “non-escalatory” manner to ensure the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh, and that it was even open to initiating confidence-building measures.

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