Indian and Chinese commanders have discussed that patrolling troops would not confront each other, and disengage in case of an eventuality.

Two meetings have so far taken place between 14 Corps Commander Lieutenant General Harinder Singh and his Chinese counterpart Major General Lin Liu, who is the commander of the South Xinjiang Military District, on 6 June and 22 June.

The second meeting happened after the death of 20 Indian soldiers, including the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar unit, in a violent face-off with the Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

Between these two meetings, divisional commander-level talks also took place between the two countries.

During the corps commander-level meetings at Chushul-Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — one lasted seven hours and the other nearly 11 hours — the military leaders of both sides discussed disengagement plans at the LAC as part of confidence-building measures and to reduce tensions.

In the first meeting, as reported by ThePrint earlier, India sought a return to the “status quo as of April” in Eastern Ladakh and a pullback of Chinese build-up at the LAC.

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The protocols discussed 

Sources said the two sides discussed that troops patrolling the LAC would not confront each other, and stop approximately 100 metres away from each other and change their direction if required.

“This would avoid any physical confrontation, which may lead to further aggravation of the situation. If due to any unplanned action, there is an engagement, the leadership at all levels should be instructed to disengage immediately,” a defence source said.

“Similarly, in case of boats patrolling the Pangong Tso (lake) would also stay clear of each other and avoid banging into each other, as has been the practice at times,” the source added.

The same protocols would also apply to any vehicle-based patrols at the LAC. They could stop or turn away at a suitable distance, the source added.

While dismantling of any structures may not happen immediately, the sources said, the Indian side demanded there won’t be any further construction between Finger 4 and Finger 8.

The Pangong Lake’s northern bank juts forward like a palm, and the various protrusions are identified as ‘fingers’ to demarcate territory. While India asserts the LAC is at Finger 8, the Chinese claim it starts at Finger 2, which India dominates.

The Chinese have moved in by 8 km until Finger 4 and have stopped Indian patrolling teams from going ahead.

Temporary structures to be removed gradually

The defence source also said the military leaders of both sides have discussed that areas, where there is lesser or no ambiguity, would be cleared in the first phase and troops would pull back to a suitable distance.

It was also discussed that temporary structures will be removed in a gradual manner. Cordial meetings to ensure mutual coordination would be conducted by commanders upto the battalion level, the source added.

The modalities to resolve issues pertaining to the “friction areas” of Eastern Ladakh would also be worked out in a gradual manner, the source said, even as both the countries have agreed on “step-wise mutual disengagement”.

The timelines for the disengagement, however, are yet to be fixed.

Army sources had earlier said the corps commander-level talks on 22 June were held “in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere” and there was a mutual consensus to disengage”.

“Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both the sides.”

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The images, dated 22 June, show massive increase in Chinese troops since Galwan Valley clash. That was the day when corps commanders agreed to disengage.

The new images emerged on a day when China launched a twin verbal onslaught against India, with its foreign and defence ministries blaming New Delhi for the deadly Galwan Valley clash on 15 June, and for violating bilateral agreements, international rules and provoking the clash.

Images via @Maxar of the #GalwanValley face-off point on 22 June 2020 show possible defensive positions being set up by #China, small walls, trench type areas have now appeared on site #IndiaChinaFaceOff

The satellite images of Galwan Valley, dated 22 June and put out by Twitter handle @detresfa_, which has been releasing images since the tensions began building in early May, show a massive build-up of China’s People’s Liberation Army troops since the 15 June clash, in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives near patrol point 14 on the Indian side of the LAC.

Image dated 18 June 2020 shows what the onground situation at the #GalwanValleyFaceOff point was 48 hours ago #IndiaChinaBorder

Although the Army is yet to speak officially on the latest satellite images, sources told ThePrint that the camps visible are on the Chinese side of the Galwan Valley, close to the LAC.

“The build-up is on the Chinese side and not on Indian territory. After the corps commander-level talks on 22 June, a decision has been taken to de-escalate in a phased manner, which will also include areas close to the LAC,” a source told ThePrint.

India and China agreed on “step-wise mutual disengagement” from all areas of friction in eastern Ladakh at Monday’s 11-hour-long corps commanders’ meeting.

However, the speed and time-table for de-escalation at each location will be different.

Sources maintain that the main problem area is Pangong lake, where the Chinese have come 8 km inside the LAC on the Indian side, and dug in at ‘Finger 4’.

Also read: How Indian troops chased the Chinese for a kilometre over LAC in Galwan on 15 June night

Show of strength in Depsang

Sources said another area where India and China have both increased deployment is the Depsang plains. The Chinese have deployed additional tanks and moved them slightly forward from their usual positions, but they are still away from the LAC.

Sources said when the crisis first broke out in early May, India had anticipated that China might flex its muscles in this crucial area, and carried out advance deployment.

When asked about inputs suggesting that some units of the PLA have actually moved a few kilometres into what is locally known as “bottleneck area” on the Indian side, Army sources said they “have no such reports”.

Meanwhile, another set of Army sources said the forward deployment by China is within territory controlled by them.

There had also been inputs that said patrolling by Indian soldiers to Patrol Point 11, 12 and 13 in the Depsang area had been challenged by the Chinese.

In April 2013, Chinese troops had crossed into the Indian territory and pitched tents for three weeks in Raki Nula, 30 km south of strategic air base Daulat Beg Oldi, before they agreed to pull out.

Also read: Want to help Indian soldiers at LAC? Stop spreading assumptions about Galwan clash

The development was first reported by news agency ANI earlier Wednesday.

The removal of the post was the trigger of the clash between the two armies that killed 20 Indian soldiers last week. Meanwhile, tensions are also brewing in Depsang, where the Chinese are believed to have blocked Indian patrols from going to Patrol Points 11, 12 and 13, an indication that the Chinese have transgressed into this area too.

The Army has officially not reacted to queries raised on the issue.

Following an understanding between the two sides after the clash at Galwan Valley, the Indians had pulled back from the area, which is close to Patrol Point 14, around half-a-kilometre from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), sources said. The Chinese were also supposed to do the same.

The issue, the sources said, was discussed during the Corps Commander-level talks held between India and China on 22 June, where the two sides had agreed to pursue step-wise de-escalation in the area.

The Chinese have laid claim to the area and said that the post is on their territory, the sources added.

Reports of what appears to be a fresh provocation from China come on a day when the country’s foreign and defence ministries issued statements blaming Indians for the 15 June clash and asserting that Galwan Valley belonged to them.

Sources told ThePrint that the Chinese want the Indians to limit their patrol to the confluence of Shyok-Galwan river, about 5 km into the LAC.

“It is a long haul. There will be lots of grey areas at every level,” a source told ThePrint when asked whether the Chinese are going back on the terms agreed during talks.

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Tensions continue

China’s continued aggression at Galwan Valley comes even as it raises challenges for Indian patrol teams in the Depsang Plains, which also lie along the western sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), especially near Patrol Points 11, 12 and 13.

Sources said India and China have both increased deployment in the Depsang Plains, an area located close to the strategic air base Daulat Beg Oldi.

Earlier Wednesday, fresh satellite images had raised concerns of increased Chinese troop build-up at both Galwan Valley and Depsang.

The satellite images of Galwan Valley, dated 22 June and put out by Twitter handle @detresfa_, which has been releasing images since the tensions began building in early May, show a massive build-up of China’s People’s Liberation Army troops since the 15 June clash.

Although the Army is yet to speak officially on the satellite images, sources had told ThePrint earlier that the camps visible are on the Chinese side of the Galwan Valley, close to the LAC.

However, later in the evening, when asked specifically about the return of the Chinese observation post, sources confirmed that it had indeed come up.

Asked about the situation at Depsang, the sources said the Chinese have deployed additional tanks and moved them slightly forward from their usual positions. But they are still away from the LAC, the sources added.

Even so, the sources said, soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army have moved a few kilometres into what is locally known as the “bottleneck area” on the Indian side and are sitting at heights, creating a threatening situation for Indian soldiers at Patrol Points 11, 12 and 13.

In April 2013, Chinese troops had crossed into Indian territory and pitched tents for three weeks at Raki Nula, 30 km south of Daulat Beg Oldi, before they agreed to pull out.

Also Read: In Ladakh’s Leh, people are caught between coronavirus and border tensions with China

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s ongoing visit to Russia is significant in several ways: it comes amid Sino-India border tensions that Russia, a common ally, seems keen to defuse; it’s the first foreign trip by a senior Union minister since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country; and it offers India an opportunity to push for the timely delivery of the S-400 air defence missile systems. In October 2018, India had signed a $5-billion deal with Russia, disregarding the Trump administration’s warning that the pact could attract US curbs under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). In June last year, India had assertively told the US that it would go by its national interest while dealing with other countries, including sanctions-hit Russia.

Though Russia has been India’s all-weather friend for decades, strengthening bilateral cooperation and gaining diplomatic support are of the essence now in view of the Chinese muscle-flexing in eastern Ladakh. China has been Russia’s largest trade partner for the past decade or so. The two neighbours have come closer following the trade sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia in 2014. Moscow is expected to walk a tightrope: it would stop short of antagonising Beijing, but at the same time want to remain in New Delhi’s good books. While building international consensus, India needs to convince countries like Russia to make China see reason and understand contemporary geopolitical realities.

Without mentioning the Galwan valley violence, India managed to convey a strong message to China during the virtual conference of the Russia-India-China (RIC) foreign ministers on Tuesday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stressed the need for respecting international law, recognising legitimate interests of partners, and bolstering multilateralism. With the Covid-ravaged US baying for its blood, China is running out of supporters in the international arena. Maintaining good relations with Russia could help China handle the crisis, but India — which is poised to play a key role in the post-pandemic world order — simply can’t be kept out of the equation. Covid-19, which is swamping India as well as Russia, gives both of them another pressing reason to work in tandem.

n Patiala village, school named Naib Subedar Mandeep Singh Primary School

The first case was found on June 18 and the infected cadet was part of a batch of 157 trainee sailors who had reported back after leave following the easing of lockdown earlier this month

Gen Naravane had landed at the headquarters of 14 Corps, known as Fire and Fury Corp, on Monday to review the situation and the operational preparedness of the troops