TENSION ON THE FRONTIER

Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a stand-off at several locations in Ladakh. Initial information suggests Chinese troops have not expanded beyond disputed areas.

THE STAND-OFF

One of the incidents is at the Pangong lake. Overlooking it is the Sirijap range, with cliffs numbered 1 to 8 by the military. India’s LAC claim line extends to Finger 8.

Chinese patrols normally come from behind Finger 8 and are intercepted by Indian patrols around Finger 6. Since Chinese forces are able to spend some amount of time on the Indian side of the claim line before being detected, the army decided to build a new observation point at Finger 8.

This time, a large number of PLA soldiers reached the area near Finger 6 where they are usually intercepted, but this time, a scuffle broke out between the soldiers on the night of May 5-6.

The other dispute started over a 46-metre long bridge being built by India across the Galwan rivulet. Once complete, the bridge will give Indian soldiers easy access to Daulat Beg Oldie, the last military post south of the

Karakoram.

THE TRIGGERS

India and China keep having these incidents as the Chinese side attempts to stop construction activities on the Indian side. The other reason for such flare-ups is the differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control.

THE TALKS

On Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry stressed that the border situation is overall “stable and controllable” and stressed on negotiations at diplomatic and military levels to

de-escalate tension.