Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

It is unlikely that the People’s Liberation Army of China will attend the ceremonial border personnel meeting with the Indian Army tomorrow.The two countries are locked in a military standoff at the Doklam plateau since June 16.As per the laid down protocol, the Indian Army, on August 15, hosts the People’s Liberation Army of China for a ceremonial border personnel meeting at five designated meeting points along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC).Top sources in Delhi confirmed tonight that Beijing might not send the PLA troops as this could indicate a thaw. By not attending the meeting, China would indicate a status quo in terms of the standoff.The previous such ceremonial meeting that was to be held on August 1 did not materialise. China was to host the meeting.Ceremonial meetings are not like the usual flag-meetings, these are events to know each other socially, there is lunch hosted and a cultural show. There are five such meeting points along the LAC and ceremonial meetings are hosted at all these points, Depsang in sub-sector north and Sappangur Gap (both on eastern Ladakh), Nathu La in Sikkim and Bumla and Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh. The last flag-meeting between two high-ranking military officers of India and China failed to end the stalemate on August 11.A Major General-rank officer was leading the Indian team and was matched by an equal rank officer from the Chinese army.The two sides stuck to their stated stands. India asked China to end its road construction activity and China asked India to withdraw from what it said was its territory. India fears Beijing is aiming to make a road to cross east of the Torsa nullah and reach the Jampheri ridge from where it gets a clear view of the Siliguri corridor, the narrow sliver of land that connects North-East with mainland India.