The Pioneer
July 23, 2013
Days after a posse of mounted Chinese infantry rode into the Indian territory in Ladkah, New Delhi is set to lodge a strong protest with Beijing at a two-day high-level engagement in Delhi beginning Tuesday, to sort out repeated incursions by the People’s Liberation Army across the Line of Actual Control.
There have been around 150 Chinese incursions during the last seven months, and the last ten days have seen four such Chinese forays. The Joint Working Group on Border Mechanism, set up two years ago between the two countries to ensure peace and tranquility on the 4,000 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), will see India registering a formal protest over repeated transgressions by China.
The Indian side will comprise representatives of External Affairs and Defence Ministries besides senior officers of the Directorate of Military Operations. The Director-General (Border) of China will represent his country.
India sought a flag meeting after Chinese troops intruded into Indian territory on July 16 and 17 in Chumar region of Ladakh. However, the Chinese side is yet to respond to the meeting request. If it happens, the flag meeting would most likely be held in Spanggur Gap near Chumar, officials said here on Monday.
Mounted on horses, a Chinese patrol of about 50 soldiers entered at least one km inside India on July 16 and ran into Indian Army troops. The Chinese claimed that the territory belonged to them and reportedly asked Indian troops to go back. The two sides then disengaged peacefully with the Chinese returning to their side, only to return the next day, sources said.
Similarly, on July 20, a Chinese patrol came inside Chumar in the evening and after spending a few hours there, went back to their positions across the LAC, sources said.
In Depsang valley of Daulat Beg Oldi, scene of the April stand-off, Chinese troops came within two kms of Indian posts in Burtse on July 12, which is around 30 kilometre from the perceived LAC, PTI reported.
Chinese military choppers also violated Indian air space on July 11. India is in an advantageous position in Chumar sector as it is a plateau connected by all weather roads.
Unlike all other positions on the LAC, China lacks infrastructure in Chumar due to the rugged and uneven terrain on its side and patrols the region on foot and horseback.
Given this situation, Chinese soldiers had earlier intruded into Chumar sector on June 17, smashed some outposts of the Indian Army and had taken away an unmanned surveillance camera. It was returned after a fortnight following protests by India.
Officials said, besides the transgression issue, the two sides will also discuss the present mechanism to resolve face-offs, the proposed Border Defence Co-Operation Agreement (BDCA) and the need if any, to increase the frequency of meetings between local commanders of the two armies.
Elaborating on the number of incursions reported so far, officials said the last two years saw more than 600 such transgressions due to difference of perception of the LAC.
However, all incidents were resolved in an amicable manner through flag meetings and diplomatic efforts as seen in the Depsang Valley face-off in April when Chinese troops came more than 19 kms inside India in Daulat Beg Oldi sector, they said.
On the issue of the proposed BDCA, officials said China is likely to give its response to India’s counter proposal given to Beijing in May. China had mooted the BDCA in March suggesting measures like informing each other about patrolling schedules and the area to be covered by troops.
The two sides are also likely to take up a proposal of establishing a hotline between the Director-General Military Operations of India and his Chinese counterpart, to speedily address situations like face-offs.
This strategic communication link was discussed between Defence Minister AK Antony and Chinese Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan during Antony’s visit to Beijing earlier this month.
