Fresh India, China friction on Sikkim border |
India on 24th January repeated its strong request to China seeking “complete disengagement and de-escalation” at all the face-off sites in eastern Ladakh. The Indian statement comes as trust deficit deepens with continuing consolidation of military positions by the Chinese Army all along the frontier. India has been pushing for finalisation of a “workable and sequential” roadmap for disengagement, de-escalation and de-induction. India seeks a joint verification mechanism, while restoring status quo ante at the `friction points` in Pangong Tso, Chushul and Gogra-Hotsprings areas as the first step. There is no official word on the outcome of the ninth round of military talks, led by 14 Corps commander Lt-General P G K Menon and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin. Talks lasted for over 10 hours on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on 24th January 2021. Experts said with hardened positions on both sides, any tangible breakthrough seems unlikely at this stage. Political leaders from both sides will have to give further directions on the proposals and counter-proposals. The Indian defence establishment is wary that China has no real intentions of a pullback. China has built up troops, tanks and howitzers from the frontlines, consolidated its military positions and upgraded its infrastructure all along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) after the Ladakh confrontation erupted in early May 2020. Meanwhile, in a new confrontation, Chinese troops tried to enter Indian territory and a fist fight occurred between the troops of the two countries at Nakula along the border on the north-east state of Sikkim.
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