India-China Border Stand-Off Continues
The stand-off on the eastern Ladakh sector in the border area of India and China continued with both sides sticking to their positions, according to media reports. The stand-off is reported to be across three locations in the Eastern Ladakh sector, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), suggesting that it was a planned move by the Chinese, according to some defence experts.
Five rounds of talks at the ground level have not been able to defuse the situation. The Chinese military is reported to have built bunkers and moved in additional troops. They are also said to have also used military helicopters for the aerial vigil.
Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane visited Ladakh on Friday for a review of the situation in the area. The Army chief is said to have been briefed on the measures being taken by the Indian Army in response to the Chinese moves.
On May 5, a scuffle took place between soldiers near the Pangong Lake which left several personnel on both sides injured. In another incident in the Sikkim sector, Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in a fierce stand-off leading to scuffles. A few soldiers from both sides sustained injuries in the incident.
Indian defence authorities have pointed out that Chinese troops have been hindering normal patrolling operations in the Ladakh sector.
Over the past few years, there have been a few such incidents involving Chinese and Indian troops. The most serious of these was the one that took place in mid-June 2017 in Doklam, an area with a plateau lying between China's Chumbi Valley to the north, Bhutan's Ha Valley to the east and India's Sikkim to the west. Doklam is considered to be of strategic importance to all three countries.
Chinese troops attempted to construct a road in the tri-junction sector in Doklam plateau near the Doka La pass and were prevented by Indian soldiers.
The stand-off between India and China continued for two months till both sides announced that they had withdrawn all troops in the area following dialogue at higher levels.