Indian army has moved additional soldiers along the LAC to match up to the military might of China
India has deployed additional military troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh to match up to the military might of People’s Republic of China, as the tensions between the two neighbours escalate to a new high.
The Indian troops are guarding the strategic bridge being built near Daulat Beg Oldi, the last military post to the South of the Karakoram Pass. The move is aimed at countering the ill-attacks by China, if any. China has already moved around 5,000 troops and armoured vehicles in the region.
The LAC is a demarcation line that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), formed after the 1962 Indi-China war. The trouble started on 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.
The high-level talks were held on May 22 and May 23 between the military officials of India and China. However, the military officials of both sides failed to reach a conclusion. The diplomats of both the nations are currently negotiating to de-escalate the rising tension.
The Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi has met the National Security Adviser of India – Ajit Doval and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) – General Bipin Rawat to take stock of the situation, especially in Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake in Eastern Ladakh.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department – Zhao Lijjan has said that the situation at border with India is overall stable and under control.
Addressing a Press Conference, he said, “We have been following the important consensus reached by the two leaders and strictly observing the agreements between the two countries.”
His remarks came a day after the President of China – Xi Jinping ordered its armed forces to scale up preparedness for battle.
Zhao further added, “We are committed to safeguarding our territorial sovereignty and security, and safeguarding peace and stability in the border areas. Now the China-India border area situation is overall stable and controllable.”
Separately, the President of United States (U.S.) – Donald Trump has offered to mediate in between to solve the rising tensions between the 2 neighbours.
Taking it to twitter, Trump said,
We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2020
For the records, India and China had already been at war in 1962. On October 20, China’s People’s Liberation Army invaded India in Ladakh and across the McMahon Line in the then North-East Frontier Agency. Till the start of the war, India was confident that war would not be started and made little preparations for war. India deployed only 2 divisions of troops in the region of the conflict, while the Chinese troops had 3 positioned 3 regiments there.
The Chinese had also cut Indian telephone lines, preventing them from making contact with their headquarters. On Day 1, the Chinese infantry also launched an attack from the rear. The continued losses forced the Indian troops to escape to Bhutan. On October 22, the Chinese lighted a bush which caused a lot of confusion among the Indians. Some 400 Chinese troops attacked the Indian position. When the Indian army discovered that a Chinese force gathered in a pass, it opened fire with mortars and machine guns and killed about 200 Chinese soldiers. The war ended when China declared a ceasefire on 20 November 1962, and simultaneously announced its withdrawal to its claimed “Line of Actual Control.”
