Delhi : Days
after the stand-off between India and China ended in Depsang Valley in
Ladakh, another face-off took place in the region on May 17 when the
Chinese intercepted and prevented an Indian Army patrol from going to
its perceived line of area near Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The incident took place on the northern side of Pnangtso Lake in
Ladakh near Finger VIII area also known as Siri Jap. The Chinese claimed
the Indian patrol was on Chinese territory whereas the Indians
maintained that they were patrolling up to their perceived line.
Moreover, the Chinese have built a road in this sector which reportedly
is about 5 km inside LAC on the Indian side. China refuses to
acknowledge LAC and maintains the road is on its territory.
Playing down the incident, officials in New Delhi said on Sunday the Indian Army regularly patrolled this area including the road and perceived it as Indian territory. “ Such face-offs keep taking place,” he said.
The officials added that there was no activity out of established pattern and Chinese patrols were also often prevented from coming on the Indian side. “It is nothing unusual as the area is disputed,” they said. Incidentally, this incident took place two days before Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to New Delhi.
Officials also denied any fresh build-up by the Chinese near the lake in the last four to five years and the road was built in 2008. No construction of infrastructure has taken place on the disputed area since then after India protested, they said.
Reports from Leh said there was a brief stand-off at the Finger-VIII area after which Army patrol returned without proceeding to the LAC. Sources said after the incident all patrols were stopped by the Ladakh-based 14 corps including the one proposed to be sent in Depsang plain, where Chinese Army had pitched tents for nearly three weeks beginning from April 15.
China has managed to construct a road up to Finger-IV area which also falls under Siri Jap area and is 5 km deep into the LAC, sources said. Chinese claim in their maps that this area falls under its area whereas Indian Army claims it to be part of Ladakh and have often cited the 1962 war when armies of both the sides fought battles in this area. Even as the two sides negotiated, the Chinese Army constructed the metal-top road and claimed the area to be part of Aksai Chin area, sources said, adding many a times the Indian Army has used the same road to patrol the area and lay claim over it. Meanwhile, after the Depsang Valley stand-off was resolved, Indian security patrols in certain areas such as Rocky Knob have been curtailed, sources said.
The Pioneer had reported last week that India has decided to go slow on infrastructure development including airfields, roads and other developmental projects till the talks to have a Border Defence Co-Operation Agreement is completed with China. One of the objectives of Chinese intruding into Depsang was to make a point of India building airfields and roads in the region from Karakoram to eastern edge of Siachen.
Source : Daily Pioneer
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Playing down the incident, officials in New Delhi said on Sunday the Indian Army regularly patrolled this area including the road and perceived it as Indian territory. “ Such face-offs keep taking place,” he said.
The officials added that there was no activity out of established pattern and Chinese patrols were also often prevented from coming on the Indian side. “It is nothing unusual as the area is disputed,” they said. Incidentally, this incident took place two days before Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to New Delhi.
Officials also denied any fresh build-up by the Chinese near the lake in the last four to five years and the road was built in 2008. No construction of infrastructure has taken place on the disputed area since then after India protested, they said.
Reports from Leh said there was a brief stand-off at the Finger-VIII area after which Army patrol returned without proceeding to the LAC. Sources said after the incident all patrols were stopped by the Ladakh-based 14 corps including the one proposed to be sent in Depsang plain, where Chinese Army had pitched tents for nearly three weeks beginning from April 15.
China has managed to construct a road up to Finger-IV area which also falls under Siri Jap area and is 5 km deep into the LAC, sources said. Chinese claim in their maps that this area falls under its area whereas Indian Army claims it to be part of Ladakh and have often cited the 1962 war when armies of both the sides fought battles in this area. Even as the two sides negotiated, the Chinese Army constructed the metal-top road and claimed the area to be part of Aksai Chin area, sources said, adding many a times the Indian Army has used the same road to patrol the area and lay claim over it. Meanwhile, after the Depsang Valley stand-off was resolved, Indian security patrols in certain areas such as Rocky Knob have been curtailed, sources said.
The Pioneer had reported last week that India has decided to go slow on infrastructure development including airfields, roads and other developmental projects till the talks to have a Border Defence Co-Operation Agreement is completed with China. One of the objectives of Chinese intruding into Depsang was to make a point of India building airfields and roads in the region from Karakoram to eastern edge of Siachen.
Source : Daily Pioneer
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