Rajnath Singh is expected to visit Ladakh on July 3, 2020 to take stock of the situation at LAC
The Defence Minister of India – Rajnath Singh is expected to visit Ladakh on Friday, i.e., July 3, 2020 after Indian and Chinese military officials agreed to have an expeditious and phased-wise de-escalation of the tension at Line of Actual Control (LAC).
During the visit, the Defence Minister is likely to hold high-level meetings with Senior leaders of the Indian Military. He will also view India’s military preparedness, in the wake of recent stand-off between India and People’s Republic of China in the Galwan Valley.
This comes after the 3rd round of Corps Commander level talks were held between Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, General Officer Commanding of the Leh-based 14 Corps and Major General Liu Lin, Commander of the South Xinjiang Military District. The meeting was held at the Indian side of the LAC in Chushul sector in Eastern Ladakh.
During the 12-hour meeting, the discussions reflected the commitment of the two sides in reducing the tensions along the LAC. However, more meetings are likely to happen at military and diplomatic levels, to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution.
What’s more worrisome is that after physically occupying an almost 8-km stretch of what India considers its territory on the north bank of Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh, Chinese Army has now created a massive signage in the area to claim it as Chinese land.
India’s consistent demand has been the restoration of status quo ante of pre-May 5, 2020 positions and de-induction of forces built up by China along the LAC. China has undertaken massive mobilisation of forces, tanks, armoured vehicles, air defences and fighters close to the LAC. India too has moved in additional divisions, tanks and artillery to match Chinese deployments.
It is to be noted that tension between the 2 nations has been rising since May 5, 2020 when soldiers of both sides clashed on the banks of Pangong Tso, leaving several soldiers of both sides injured. Pangong Tso is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas, situated at a height of about 4,350 mts. It is 134 kms. long and extends from India to the Tibetan Autonomous Region, China.
Later, on the night of June 15, 2020, 20 Indian soldiers were martyred in violent clashes that broke-out during the de-escalation process near the Patrolling Point 14 in the Galwan Valley between the Indian soldiers and Chinese troops. The Indian and Chinese troops clashed with rods and stones.
Meanwhile, China has expressed concerns after India banned 59 Chines apps citing as they were prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and security of the country. These banned apps included Tik Tok, UC Browser, We Chat, Shareit, Mi Community, Weibo, Mi Video Call, among others.
A statement from Ministry of Information technology, India read, “The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures.”
Speaking on the ban, the Deputy Director of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department – Zhao Lijian said, “We want to stress that Chinese Government always asks Chinese businesses to abide by international and local laws-regulations. Indian government has a responsibility to uphold the legal rights of international investors including Chinese ones.”
