New Delhi: Tensions between Indian and Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh near the Pangong lake, that had flared up on Wednesday, subsided after delegation-level talks were held, according to a report in India Today.
The standoff, which lasted for a day, came as the Indian Army on Wednesday announced plans to hold a joint exercise with the Indian Air Force next month in Arunachal Pradesh.
The standoff, which began in the early hours of Wednesday morning, reportedly took place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near the northern bank of the 134-km-long Pangong lake in Ladakh, two-thirds of which is controlled by China.
Sources within the army claimed that tensions escalated after Indian troops on patrol were confronted by soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army of China who objected to their presence in the area. “This led to a scuffle between the rival soldiers, with both sides sending some reinforcements to the area… the face-off was in progress at the site till the evening,” a source told Times of India.
Speaking to TOI, the Army said that the delegation-level talks to diffuse tensions were led by brigadier-rank officers and “had been sought and agreed to by the two sides” as per the established bilateral mechanism.
“Such incidents often take place due to differing perceptions of where the Line of Actual Control (LAC) actually lies … they are usually resolved through border personnel meetings, flag meetings and the like,” an officer told TOI.
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According to ANI, the Indian Army “disengaged fully after delegation-level talks” were held on Wednesday.
Indian Army: There was a face off between soldiers of Indian Army and Chinese Army near the northern bank of the Pangong lake. The face off was over after the delegation level talks between two sides there. De-escalated & disengaged fully after delegation level talks yesterday. pic.twitter.com/dZY9Mp04l2
— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2019
Referring to the statement of the Indian army, the MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the “matter had been resolved”.
“It is important to note how quickly the matter got resolved. It means that the mechanism which exists between India and china are working very well,” he told reporters at the weekly briefing on Thursday.
Incidentally, the Pangong Tso lake was also the site of a bitter scuffle between Indian and Chinese soldiers on August 19, 2017, which led to jostling and stone pelting between soldiers of the two armies although no shots were fired.
This confrontation came at a time when tensions between India and China were heightened due to a two-month-long standoff in the Bhutanese territory of Doklam on the Sikkim border.
Despite disengagement from the standoff, the Chinese have constructed military infrastructure and helipads and stationed troops permanently in north Doklam.
The site of the scuffle assumes significance as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) cuts through the lake, but India and China do not agree on its exact location.
The Indian Army has said similar incidents can take place along the LAC in view of its exercise next month. On Wednesday, the Indian Army had announced its plans to hold an exercise in October in which the Indian Air Force and the Army would jointly exercise a real war scenario in Arunachal Pradesh.
The skirmish comes a month before of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 10-12 near Chennai. Line of Actual Control (LAC) stability and trade ties are likely to be the focus of discussion when PM Modi meets Xi Jinping.
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The site assumes significance as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) cuts through the lake, but India and China do not agree on its exact location.
The mountains, which move forward in spurs, on the northern bank of the Pangong Tso lake are referred to as “fingers” by the Indian Army. India claims that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) runs along Finger 8, but is physically able to control area only up to Finger 4. Chinese border posts are at Finger 8, while Indian border posts are located close to Finger 3.
The “Him Vijay” exercise by the Indian Army in Arunachal Pradesh is scheduled to be held around the time Chinese President Xi Jinping is supposed to visit India for an informal summit with PM Narendra Modi.
Previously an informal summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held in Wuhan in April 2018 in the aftermath of the Doklam face-off.
Sources speaking to TOI said that Chinese authorities had not been informed of the upcoming exercise as it was not going to be held close to the border in Arunachal Pradesh.
In August, after the Indian government enacted legislation to bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Beijing had termed the carving of Ladakh into a separate union territory as “unacceptable”. Chinese spokesperson Hua Chunying had said that the reorganisation of Ladakh would directly “impede China’s sovereignty”.
At a recent meeting of the foreign ministers in Beijing, Indian external affairs minister Jaishankar told the Chinese state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi that the recent legislative changes would not change external boundaries. “It did not impact the LoC (Line of Control),” said the Indian minister, adding that China “should base its assessment on realities”.
This story was updated to include the MEA’s response.