Tag: Galwan Valley

  • After Galwan, China Accepted That India No Longer A Weak Nation: Rajnath Singh |

    Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a visit to the United Kingdom, has said that India has changed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and even countries like China, who used to consider India a frail economy, have changed their perception about New Delhi. Addressing the Indian diaspora in Britain, Rajnath Singh said that China’s perception of India has changed drastically.

    #BreakingNews: लंदन में रक्षामंत्री राजनाथ सिंह का बड़ा बयान, कहा- डोकलाम के बाद चीन ने भारत का लोहा माना #RajnathSingh #China #London #Britain | @supreetanchor @thakur_shivangi pic.twitter.com/uLMGnS3DQ8


    — Zee News (@ZeeNews) January 11, 2024

    Singh also said that after the Galwan standoff, China conceded that India is no longer a weak nation. “China is considered as the opponent of India. We don’t consider China as our opponent, maybe China considers so. However, we wish to cultivate good ties with all our neighbours and countries across the globe…In 2020, a faceoff happened between India and China, and the bravery that was shown by our security forces, maybe that is the reason why China’s perspective about India has changed. They realised that India is not weak anymore,” said Singh.

    #WATCH | London, UK: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, ” China is considered as the opponent of China, we don’t consider China as our opponent, maybe China considers so. We don’t consider anyone as our opponent…in 2020, a faceoff happened between India and China, and the… pic.twitter.com/2oG9GqTHH0


    — ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

    Citing a recent article published in the Chinese state-controlled Global Times, Singh said, “A columnist for the Global Times, which, in a way, is a mouthpiece for China, published an article with the headline ‘What I see about Bharat narrative in India’. This article is a ringing affirmation of the changing Chinese perspective on India. It seems the Chinese government has come to accept that our economic and foreign policies, as well as our changing strategic interests, have helped Bharat emerge as a key global economic player and a strategic power.” 

    Addressing community reception at the India House in London, Singh said that the Chinese analyst also noted that Beijing now accepts that whether you like Bharat or not, India’s image and rising global standing can no longer be ignored. 

  • Army aims to restore patrolling rights at Despang during Sino-India disengagement talks

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has put its foot down over the restoration of patrolling rights as the talks between India and China are underway for troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh both at the diplomatic and military levels.

    Sources said on Tuesday that the Indian stance on the standoff points has remained consistent, i.e. restoration of status quo ante as on April 2020. “This entails the restoration of patrolling rights to the traditional patrolling points,” said multiple sources.

    The 18th round of Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL) talks were conducted at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point, on the Chinese side, on April 23 this year.

    The “friction” caused by the standoff between the ground forces of the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remains at two friction points — Depsang and Demchok.

    The technical term for the corps commander talks is interactions at the Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL). Talks at the SHMCL levels took place for the first time on June 6, 2020.

    The Indian side emphasized that the process of disengagement from Galwan, Gogra, Hotsprings and the north and south banks of Pangong Tso does not change India’s claim over the alignment of the LAC.

    “All disengagements carried out earlier also have been done on the basis of mutual security with no prejudice to LAC claims by either side,” said a source.

    But the standoff at Depsang is of much significance where the Chinese troops have blocked access to five patrolling points — 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13. The area out of access, as per the sources, is around 952 sq km.

    The five patrolling points, which are located east of the strategic Sub-Sector North road, are close to the LAC, but not located right at the LAC but are located inside the line that marks the Indian territory.

    The Sub-Sector North, of which Depsang is a part, is strategically most important. The terrain is such that a large-scale armour operation is possible. China has multiple roads feeding this area while India has only the DSDBO Road.

    Depsang is also a link to Siachen and the Daulat beg Oldie (DBO) Airfield. The crucial Y Junction is about 20 km from the DBO. The Patrolling points are identified and marked on the LAC where regular patrolling is done to assert the claim about the LAC.

    Tension prevails along the LAC in eastern Ladakh with more than 50, 000 soldiers from each side amassed with heavy equipment like missiles, artillery, and tanks with air power being kept ready. 

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has put its foot down over the restoration of patrolling rights as the talks between India and China are underway for troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh both at the diplomatic and military levels.

    Sources said on Tuesday that the Indian stance on the standoff points has remained consistent, i.e. restoration of status quo ante as on April 2020. “This entails the restoration of patrolling rights to the traditional patrolling points,” said multiple sources.

    The 18th round of Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL) talks were conducted at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point, on the Chinese side, on April 23 this year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The “friction” caused by the standoff between the ground forces of the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remains at two friction points — Depsang and Demchok.

    The technical term for the corps commander talks is interactions at the Senior Highest Military Commander Level (SHMCL). Talks at the SHMCL levels took place for the first time on June 6, 2020.

    The Indian side emphasized that the process of disengagement from Galwan, Gogra, Hotsprings and the north and south banks of Pangong Tso does not change India’s claim over the alignment of the LAC.

    “All disengagements carried out earlier also have been done on the basis of mutual security with no prejudice to LAC claims by either side,” said a source.

    But the standoff at Depsang is of much significance where the Chinese troops have blocked access to five patrolling points — 10, 11, 11A, 12, and 13. The area out of access, as per the sources, is around 952 sq km.

    The five patrolling points, which are located east of the strategic Sub-Sector North road, are close to the LAC, but not located right at the LAC but are located inside the line that marks the Indian territory.

    The Sub-Sector North, of which Depsang is a part, is strategically most important. The terrain is such that a large-scale armour operation is possible. China has multiple roads feeding this area while India has only the DSDBO Road.

    Depsang is also a link to Siachen and the Daulat beg Oldie (DBO) Airfield. The crucial Y Junction is about 20 km from the DBO. The Patrolling points are identified and marked on the LAC where regular patrolling is done to assert the claim about the LAC.

    Tension prevails along the LAC in eastern Ladakh with more than 50, 000 soldiers from each side amassed with heavy equipment like missiles, artillery, and tanks with air power being kept ready. 

  • Incursions along Indo-Tibet border are by China, says Tibetan govt-in-exile

    By PTI

    KOLKATA:  Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong or President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile Tuesday asserted that all incursions along the Indo-Tibetan border have been one-sided and by China.

    In an interview with PTI, the President said since Tibet had signed the treaty of 1914 which set the border between his homeland and India along the McMohan line, Tawang was an integral part of India.

    “We know incursions are happening all from the Chinese side,” Tsering said here. He was speaking in the context of recent clashes at Tawang and at Ladakh between the Indian Army and China’s PLA.

    “Till 1959, there was no border between India and China; it was with Tibet. We are signatories to the 1914 Simla agreement and we recognise the McMohan line as the legitimate border,” he said.

    The Sikyong or President is directly elected by the Tibetan diaspora living in various parts of the world ever since Tibetan refugees fled the “roof of the world” in the wake of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Lhasa to India.

    “China’s belligerence is without any provocation from the Indian side,” the President said, adding that “India standing up to its position sends a very strong message to China.”

    He pointed out that China has disputes with many Asian countries and has been unwilling to settle them.

    “When it comes to US-China relations, they (the Chinese) complain they are not treated as equals but when it comes to other countries in Asia,” they never treat them equally, Tsering asserted.

    He claimed China has a policy of keeping hot spots like Taiwan and Tawang burning in order to divert attention to its own failings.

    He said that China had not been successful in keeping its economic momentum up and had not been able to control the Covid situation at home. “Now that the whole world has recovered, they want to export Covid again,” Tsering said.

    ALSO READ| China didn’t observe agreements with India, tried to ‘unilaterally change’ LAC: Jaishankar

    KOLKATA:  Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong or President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile Tuesday asserted that all incursions along the Indo-Tibetan border have been one-sided and by China.

    In an interview with PTI, the President said since Tibet had signed the treaty of 1914 which set the border between his homeland and India along the McMohan line, Tawang was an integral part of India.

    “We know incursions are happening all from the Chinese side,” Tsering said here. He was speaking in the context of recent clashes at Tawang and at Ladakh between the Indian Army and China’s PLA.

    “Till 1959, there was no border between India and China; it was with Tibet. We are signatories to the 1914 Simla agreement and we recognise the McMohan line as the legitimate border,” he said.

    The Sikyong or President is directly elected by the Tibetan diaspora living in various parts of the world ever since Tibetan refugees fled the “roof of the world” in the wake of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Lhasa to India.

    “China’s belligerence is without any provocation from the Indian side,” the President said, adding that “India standing up to its position sends a very strong message to China.”

    He pointed out that China has disputes with many Asian countries and has been unwilling to settle them.

    “When it comes to US-China relations, they (the Chinese) complain they are not treated as equals but when it comes to other countries in Asia,” they never treat them equally, Tsering asserted.

    He claimed China has a policy of keeping hot spots like Taiwan and Tawang burning in order to divert attention to its own failings.

    He said that China had not been successful in keeping its economic momentum up and had not been able to control the Covid situation at home. “Now that the whole world has recovered, they want to export Covid again,” Tsering said.

    ALSO READ| China didn’t observe agreements with India, tried to ‘unilaterally change’ LAC: Jaishankar

  • Ties with China not normal, India won’t agree to any attempt to change LAC: Jaishankar

    By PTI

    NICOSIA: India will not agree to any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control (LAC) unilaterally by China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, as he underlined that New Delhi’s relations with Beijing are “not normal” and there would be no compromise on core issues.

    Addressing the Indian community in Cyprus on Friday during his first official visit to this Mediterranean country, Jaishankar, in a veiled attack on Pakistan, also said that terrorism cannot be used as a tool to force India to the negotiating table.

    Jaishankar said India has challenges on its borders, which intensified during the Covid period.

    “Today the state of our relations with China is not very normal because we will never agree to any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control unilaterally,” he said.

    There will be no “compromise on the core issue” of national security, Jaishankar asserted.

    Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 and the face-off resulted in “minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides”, according to the Indian Army.

    It is the first major clash between the Indian and Chinese armies since the fierce face-off in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

    The ties between the two countries froze since then with India making it clear that peace and tranquillity at the border is the sine qua non for the overall development of bilateral ties.

    The two countries have held 17 rounds of talks so far to resolve the standoff.

    In his speech, Jaishankar said no country has suffered from terrorism as much as India. “We want good neighbourly relations with everybody. But good neighbourly relations doesn’t mean excusing or looking away or rationalising terrorism. That we are very clear,” he said without naming any country.

    “We will never normalise it. We will never allow terrorism to force us to the negotiating table,” he said.

    Relations between India and Pakistan have often been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

    INTERVIEW| ‘China will create trouble at sensitive points’, says army veteran Sudhakar Jee

    NICOSIA: India will not agree to any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control (LAC) unilaterally by China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, as he underlined that New Delhi’s relations with Beijing are “not normal” and there would be no compromise on core issues.

    Addressing the Indian community in Cyprus on Friday during his first official visit to this Mediterranean country, Jaishankar, in a veiled attack on Pakistan, also said that terrorism cannot be used as a tool to force India to the negotiating table.

    Jaishankar said India has challenges on its borders, which intensified during the Covid period.

    “Today the state of our relations with China is not very normal because we will never agree to any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control unilaterally,” he said.

    There will be no “compromise on the core issue” of national security, Jaishankar asserted.

    Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 and the face-off resulted in “minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides”, according to the Indian Army.

    It is the first major clash between the Indian and Chinese armies since the fierce face-off in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

    The ties between the two countries froze since then with India making it clear that peace and tranquillity at the border is the sine qua non for the overall development of bilateral ties.

    The two countries have held 17 rounds of talks so far to resolve the standoff.

    In his speech, Jaishankar said no country has suffered from terrorism as much as India. “We want good neighbourly relations with everybody. But good neighbourly relations doesn’t mean excusing or looking away or rationalising terrorism. That we are very clear,” he said without naming any country.

    “We will never normalise it. We will never allow terrorism to force us to the negotiating table,” he said.

    Relations between India and Pakistan have often been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

    INTERVIEW| ‘China will create trouble at sensitive points’, says army veteran Sudhakar Jee

  • Bravery, valour displayed by Indian armed forces in Galwan, Tawang commendable: Rajnath

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The bravery and valour displayed by the Indian armed forces during the Galwan valley clash and a recent face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh are commendable and any amount of praise for them is not enough, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

    In an address at industry chamber FICCI, Singh also took an indirect dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “doubting” the government’s handling of the border row with China.

    “Any amount of praise is not enough for the armed forces for the way they displayed bravery and valour, be it in Galwan or Tawang,” Singh said.

    “We have never questioned the intention of any leader in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies.Politics should be based on truth. Politics cannot be done on the basis of falsehood for a long time.”

    “The process of taking the society towards the right path is called ‘rajniti’ (politics). I do not understand the reason behind doubting anyone’s intention always,” the minister said.

    Singh said India’s stature has increased significantly on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Now, India is working on setting the agenda on the world stage, he said.

    NEW DELHI: The bravery and valour displayed by the Indian armed forces during the Galwan valley clash and a recent face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh are commendable and any amount of praise for them is not enough, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

    In an address at industry chamber FICCI, Singh also took an indirect dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “doubting” the government’s handling of the border row with China.

    “Any amount of praise is not enough for the armed forces for the way they displayed bravery and valour, be it in Galwan or Tawang,” Singh said.

    “We have never questioned the intention of any leader in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies.Politics should be based on truth. Politics cannot be done on the basis of falsehood for a long time.”

    “The process of taking the society towards the right path is called ‘rajniti’ (politics). I do not understand the reason behind doubting anyone’s intention always,” the minister said.

    Singh said India’s stature has increased significantly on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Now, India is working on setting the agenda on the world stage, he said.

  • Indian armed forces’ bravery, valour in Galwan, Tawang commendable: Rajnath

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The bravery and valour displayed by the armed forces during the Galwan valley clashes and the recent face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh is commendable and any amount of praise for them is not enough, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

    Singh’s comments during an address at the industry chamber FICCI came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of downplaying the threat posed by China along the Line of Actual Control and saying it was “asleep” and not ready to accept the situation.

    The defence minister also took an indirect dig at Gandhi for “doubting” the government’s intention in handling the border row with China and said politics can not be done on the basis of “falsehood.”

    “Any amount of praise is not enough for the armed forces the way they displayed bravery and valour, be it in Galwan or Tawang,” Singh said.

    “We have never questioned the intention of any leader in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies. Politics should be based on truth. Politics cannot be done on the basis of falsehood for a long time,” he said, without naming anyone.

    “The process of taking the society towards the right path is called ‘rajniti’ (politics). I do not understand the reason behind doubting anyone’s intention always,” Singh said.

    Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a fresh clash in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on December 9, in a first such major flare-up after the deadly hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

    In his remarks, Singh also said that India aspires to become a superpower for global good and prosperity, and it does not have any intention to even capture one inch of the land of any country, seen as a thinly veiled reference to China’s aggressive behaviour along the borders.

    “When I am saying we aspire to become a superpower, it should never be construed that we want to dominate over countries in the world. We do not have any intention to even capture one inch of the land of any country,” he said.

    “If we want to become a superpower, then we want to become a superpower for global good and prosperity. The world is our family,” Singh added.

    The defence minister also said that India’s economy was among the six-seven large economies during the time of Independence, and when China witnessed a new system following the 1949 revolution, its GDP was less than that of India.

    He said though India and China kept marching together till 1980, the neighbouring country went ahead riding on economic reforms.

    “In the year 1991, economic reforms started in our country too. But China has made such a long jump in a short time that, except the US, it has left behind all other countries of the world in its pace of development,” he said.

    “India returned to the list of top 10 economies in the 21st century. But the kind of development that should have happened in India was not happening,” the defence minister said, adding that a new era of development began in 2014 when Narendra Modi became the prime minister.

    Singh said when Modi took charge of the government, the Indian economy used to be the ninth-largest globally and its size was about two trillion dollars.

    “Today, India’s economy has become the fifth-largest economy with a size of three-and-a-half trillion dollars,” he said.

    In his address, Singh also gave a rundown of the achievements of the Modi government in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, banking, trade and investment, foreign direct investment and overall economic reforms.

    “Remember the time of 2013, when investment firm Morgan Stanley coined the term ‘Fragile Five’, which is the five countries of the world whose economy was faltering badly. The countries in this ‘Fragile Five’ were Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and India,” he said.

    “Today India has moved out of the category of ‘Fragile Five’ and joined the ‘Fabulous Five’ economies of the world,” he said.

    Singh said India’s stature has increased significantly on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Now, India is working on setting the agenda on the world stage, he said.

    At the same time, the defence minister talked about some problems facing the nation, including inflation. He said inflation has gone up due to disruptions in the global supply chain and other logistical bottlenecks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict.

    “The problem of inflation is before us as a major issue. In fact, the world had not fully recovered from the supply chain disruptions and logistical bottlenecks caused by COVID-19 when the Ukraine conflict came before us,” Singh said.

    “Whatever may be the reason, if the problem is in front of us, then we have to find a solution for it. Not only India, but the economy of the whole world is passing through a very difficult phase, but if you see, inflation is less in India as compared to other major countries,” he said.

    NEW DELHI: The bravery and valour displayed by the armed forces during the Galwan valley clashes and the recent face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh is commendable and any amount of praise for them is not enough, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

    Singh’s comments during an address at the industry chamber FICCI came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of downplaying the threat posed by China along the Line of Actual Control and saying it was “asleep” and not ready to accept the situation.

    The defence minister also took an indirect dig at Gandhi for “doubting” the government’s intention in handling the border row with China and said politics can not be done on the basis of “falsehood.”

    “Any amount of praise is not enough for the armed forces the way they displayed bravery and valour, be it in Galwan or Tawang,” Singh said.

    “We have never questioned the intention of any leader in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies. Politics should be based on truth. Politics cannot be done on the basis of falsehood for a long time,” he said, without naming anyone.

    “The process of taking the society towards the right path is called ‘rajniti’ (politics). I do not understand the reason behind doubting anyone’s intention always,” Singh said.

    Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a fresh clash in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on December 9, in a first such major flare-up after the deadly hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

    In his remarks, Singh also said that India aspires to become a superpower for global good and prosperity, and it does not have any intention to even capture one inch of the land of any country, seen as a thinly veiled reference to China’s aggressive behaviour along the borders.

    “When I am saying we aspire to become a superpower, it should never be construed that we want to dominate over countries in the world. We do not have any intention to even capture one inch of the land of any country,” he said.

    “If we want to become a superpower, then we want to become a superpower for global good and prosperity. The world is our family,” Singh added.

    The defence minister also said that India’s economy was among the six-seven large economies during the time of Independence, and when China witnessed a new system following the 1949 revolution, its GDP was less than that of India.

    He said though India and China kept marching together till 1980, the neighbouring country went ahead riding on economic reforms.

    “In the year 1991, economic reforms started in our country too. But China has made such a long jump in a short time that, except the US, it has left behind all other countries of the world in its pace of development,” he said.

    “India returned to the list of top 10 economies in the 21st century. But the kind of development that should have happened in India was not happening,” the defence minister said, adding that a new era of development began in 2014 when Narendra Modi became the prime minister.

    Singh said when Modi took charge of the government, the Indian economy used to be the ninth-largest globally and its size was about two trillion dollars.

    “Today, India’s economy has become the fifth-largest economy with a size of three-and-a-half trillion dollars,” he said.

    In his address, Singh also gave a rundown of the achievements of the Modi government in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, banking, trade and investment, foreign direct investment and overall economic reforms.

    “Remember the time of 2013, when investment firm Morgan Stanley coined the term ‘Fragile Five’, which is the five countries of the world whose economy was faltering badly. The countries in this ‘Fragile Five’ were Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and India,” he said.

    “Today India has moved out of the category of ‘Fragile Five’ and joined the ‘Fabulous Five’ economies of the world,” he said.

    Singh said India’s stature has increased significantly on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Now, India is working on setting the agenda on the world stage, he said.

    At the same time, the defence minister talked about some problems facing the nation, including inflation. He said inflation has gone up due to disruptions in the global supply chain and other logistical bottlenecks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict.

    “The problem of inflation is before us as a major issue. In fact, the world had not fully recovered from the supply chain disruptions and logistical bottlenecks caused by COVID-19 when the Ukraine conflict came before us,” Singh said.

    “Whatever may be the reason, if the problem is in front of us, then we have to find a solution for it. Not only India, but the economy of the whole world is passing through a very difficult phase, but if you see, inflation is less in India as compared to other major countries,” he said.

  • Situation has not returned to normal: MEA on eastern Ladakh border row

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Friday said the situation in eastern Ladakh has not returned to the stage of full normalcy as some steps are yet to be taken for it.

    The comments of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came days after Chinese envoy Sun Weidong claimed that the situation in eastern Ladakh is “overall stable” as the two sides have moved from the “emergency response” that followed the Galwan valley clashes in June 2020 to “normalised” management.

    “Some steps are required for full normalcy, we have not reached there,” Bagchi said when asked about the Chinese ambassador’s remarks.

    The MEA spokesperson said India has been maintaining that it expects disengagement followed by de-escalation for the return of normalcy on the border, which could pave the way for normal ties between the two neighbouring countries.

    “We have not reached there. I would not like to say that the situation is normal. There have been some positive steps, but some steps are yet to be taken,” he said.

    Bagchi also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks last month that the disengagement at Patrolling Point 15 in eastern Ladakh was “one problem less” on the border.

    Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Tuesday said the benchmark for the situation to become normal in eastern Ladakh would be to return to status quo ante prior to the standoff and a complete withdrawal of troops from all friction points.

    Though the two sides have disengaged from Patrolling Point 15 (PP-15), there has been no progress yet on resolving the standoff in the Demchok and Depsang regions.

    Following the eastern Ladakh standoff, India has been consistently maintaining that peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is key for the overall development of its ties with China and the state of the border will determine the state of the bilateral relationship.

    The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas.

    Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weaponry.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.

    The disengagement in the Pangong lake area took place in February last year, while the withdrawal of troops and equipment from Patrolling Point 17(A) in Gogra took place in August last year.

    NEW DELHI: India on Friday said the situation in eastern Ladakh has not returned to the stage of full normalcy as some steps are yet to be taken for it.

    The comments of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came days after Chinese envoy Sun Weidong claimed that the situation in eastern Ladakh is “overall stable” as the two sides have moved from the “emergency response” that followed the Galwan valley clashes in June 2020 to “normalised” management.

    “Some steps are required for full normalcy, we have not reached there,” Bagchi said when asked about the Chinese ambassador’s remarks.

    The MEA spokesperson said India has been maintaining that it expects disengagement followed by de-escalation for the return of normalcy on the border, which could pave the way for normal ties between the two neighbouring countries.

    “We have not reached there. I would not like to say that the situation is normal. There have been some positive steps, but some steps are yet to be taken,” he said.

    Bagchi also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks last month that the disengagement at Patrolling Point 15 in eastern Ladakh was “one problem less” on the border.

    Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Tuesday said the benchmark for the situation to become normal in eastern Ladakh would be to return to status quo ante prior to the standoff and a complete withdrawal of troops from all friction points.

    Though the two sides have disengaged from Patrolling Point 15 (PP-15), there has been no progress yet on resolving the standoff in the Demchok and Depsang regions.

    Following the eastern Ladakh standoff, India has been consistently maintaining that peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is key for the overall development of its ties with China and the state of the border will determine the state of the bilateral relationship.

    The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas.

    Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weaponry.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.

    The disengagement in the Pangong lake area took place in February last year, while the withdrawal of troops and equipment from Patrolling Point 17(A) in Gogra took place in August last year.

  • Accepting casualties in Galwan Valley clash, China blames India for face-off in June 2020

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Eight months after the violent face-off with Indian troops in Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control, China for the first time accepted suffering four casualties.

    They continue to hold India responsible for the confrontation though. Beijing honoured five PLA soldiers — four dead and one injured — for bravery in ‘battle’ with Indian troops.

    The People’s Daily released the names of the four killed — Chen Hongjun, Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran.

    This admission comes days after Russian news agency TASS said at least 45 Chinese soldiers had died in the June 15 clash. India had announced immediately that it had lost 20 of its soldiers, including Colonel G Santosh Babu.

    ALSO READ | After months of denial, China accepts its four soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley clash; releases video

    “The report has been revealed to give the truth to the public because the truth is long awaited and it is necessary for the people to know the true story,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

    Hua said India is an important neighbour and restoring a healthy and stable relationship is in the interest of the two countries.

    “I hope the Indian side will work with us towards achieving this shared goal.”

    The face-off between Indian and PLA troops came after Indian soldiers were prevented from reaching their patrolling points.

    Chinese state media has released a video of the June 15 #GalwanValley clash which shows chinese troops gwtting injured @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard pic.twitter.com/ICdwxf69ws
    — Pushkar Banakar (@PushkarBanakar) February 19, 2021

    Though there was no firing reported in accordance with the agreement signed by the two sides, Chinese troops used rods studded with nails and barbed wire to attack Indian soldiers.

    Also, the admission of casualties came on a day when the disengagement process on the banks of Pangong Lake was completed, with the Chinese defence and foreign ministries continuing to blame India.

    “China has exercised great restraint, reflecting China’s tolerance and commitment as a responsible power. However, the Indian side has repeatedly exaggerated and hyped the casualties, distorting the truth and misleading international public opinion,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.

    Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang said Indian troops had been crossing LAC since June.

    “They even attacked Chinese officers and soldiers who went there for negotiation, thus intentionally triggering physical conflict at Galwan Valley and causing casualties on both sides.

  • Disengagement in areas of eastern Ladakh is surrender to China: AK Antony

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony on Sunday alleged that disengagement in both the Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso Lake areas and the creation of a buffer zone was a “surrender” of India’s rights.

    Addressing a press conference, he also said that at a time when India was facing multiple challenges at the border and was facing a two-front war-like situation, the increase in defence budget this year is meagre and insignificant and was a “betrayal” of the country.

    The government had on Friday emphatically stated that India has not “conceded” any territory following the disengagement agreement with China in Pangong lake areas in eastern Ladakh.

    Antony said he was sad that the Narendra Modi government was not giving proper priority to national security at a time when China was getting belligerent and Pakistan continued to promote terrorism.

    He said disengagement was good as it reduced tension but it should not be done at the cost of national security.

    “Both disengagements in Galwan and Pangong Tso are a surrender,” he alleged, adding that it amounted to surrendering of areas traditionally controlled by India.

    “We are surrendering our rights,” he alleged, noting that Galwan Valley as Indian territory was never a disputed land even in 1962.

    “Disengagement and buffer zone means surrender of our land at the moment,” he alleged, while warning that the government is not understanding the importance of this disengagement and creation of the buffer zone.

    He warned that China can play mischief anytime by helping Pakistan in Siachen.

    “We want to know from this government when there will be status quo ante as on mid-April 2020 in the entire India-China border,” he said, asking what was the government’s plan in this regard.

    He also said that the government must take the country and the people into confidence on restoration of status quo ante at the borders.

    He said the government always consulted leaders of all political parties before taking such a decision and must keep national security in mind.

    Antony alleged that the government did not increased the defence budget to “appease” China and to give a message that it did not want to confront them.

    “To appease China, the government sent a message by not increasing this defence budget that we do not want to confront you.

    To appease China, we have agreed to disengagement on China’s terms,” he alleged.

    When the whole country is facing serious challenges from both China and Pakistan, the senior Congress leader said the armed forces are demanding support and substantial increase in the defence budget.

    “But compared to last year’s revised defence budget, this budget has made a meagre and insufficient increase of only 1.48 per cent.

    “It is a betrayal of the country. The government has let down our armed forces. The government is not paying proper attention of national security,” he further charged.

  • Parliamentary panel on defence intents to visit Galwan Valley, Pangong in eastern Ladakh: Sources

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The parliamentary standing committee on defence intends to visit the Galwan Valley and the Pangong lake in the eastern Ladakh region which has been witness to a violent stand-off between the troops of India and China, sources said.

    However, it may seek the permission of the government before visiting the strategically-located areas, they said.

    The 30-member committee, chaired by senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Jual Oram and of which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is a member, intends to visit the eastern Ladakh region in the last week of May or June, the sources said on Friday.

    The decision to visit these areas was taken in the panel’s latest meeting, they said.

    Gandhi did not attend it.

    The panel’s visit to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) depends on the approval from the government, the sources added.

    After a nine-month standoff, militaries of Indian and China reached an agreement on disengagement in the north and south banks of Pangong lake that mandates both sides to cease forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.

    On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a detailed statement in Parliament on the disengagement pact.

    ALSO READ: Full disengagement at Pangong to take more time than thought

    According to the agreement, China has to pull back its troops to east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank while the Indian personnel will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 in the region.

    Similar action will take place on the south bank of the lake as well, Singh said.

    India has not “conceded” any territory to China by firming up an agreement on the disengagement process in Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, and other outstanding “problems” including in Depsang, Hot Springs ad Gogra will be taken up at the upcoming talks between military commanders of the two countries, the defence ministry said on Friday.

    The statement by the ministry came hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government has “ceded” Indian territory to China and raised questions over the agreement on the disengagement process.

    The ministry also dubbed as “categorically false” the assertion that Indian territory is up to Finger 4 in the Pangong Tso area, adding the permanent posts of both sides in the area are “longstanding and well-established”.

    “India has not conceded any territory as a result of this agreement.

    On the contrary, it has enforced observance and respect for LAC and prevented any unilateral change in the status quo,” the ministry said in the strongly-worded statement.

    The MEA also said the two countries have agreed to convene the 10th round of senior commanders meeting within 48 hours after complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area to address the remaining issues, and added that no date has been set for Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs.

    The agreement on disengagement in the north and south banks of Pangong lake mandates both Chinese and Indian sides to “cease” forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.