The Ladakh Stand-off amongst India-China clash
The standoff between India and China started near Line of Actual Control and in Sikkim after China has moved two brigade strength of People’s Liberation Army of over 6000 soldiers at four locations in eastern Ladakh and three in the Galwan Valley and one near Pangong Lake - is taking quite a turn.
Responding to Chinese aggression, India had also moved an equal number of high-altitude warfare troops to these areas closer to the Line of Actual Control.
To minimise the intensity of the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, it is suggested that India and China will start a fresh round of military talks on June 6, bringing senior commanders to the table.
Army sources indicated this even as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he had been informed about the talks. On the situation in Ladakh, Singh said the problem stems from the different LAC claims of the two sides.
“The recent incident, it is true, the Chinese on the border… their claim is up to a particular point and India’s claim is up to a particular point. And due to this, there has been disagreement. And the Chinese have come in sizeable numbers (achhi khasi sankhya). But whatever needs to be done, India has also done,” he said.
The next meeting, sources said, will be between Lt General-level officers from both sides, with the Indian delegation being led by the Corps Commander of the Leh-based XIV Corps.
The purpose of these meetings, sources said, is to find a way to amicably end all ongoing military activity in the contested portions of the LAC, which have witnessed a heavy military build-up from both countries in the past few weeks.
With a hopeful vibe, Singh said India and China “have a mechanism to solve the problem and we are working as per that mechanism… What can be better if it can be resolved through talks… Be assured.”
On another scenario, irked by the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the situation along the LAC in Ladakh with US President Donald Trump during a phone conversation, China on Wednesday said there was no need for a “third party” to intervene in the ongoing Sino-India border friction.
When asked to comment on the specific mention of the India-China border problem, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian said, “Now the situation (at the border) over there is overall stable and controllable . China and India have a full-fledged border related mechanism and communication channel. We have capability to resolve this issue through dialogue and negotiations. There is no need for intervention of third party.”
Well, at least with both countries agreeing to the fact they have mechanisms to resolve such problems, we shall remain ‘hopeful’ too.
