China deploys two more divisions of troops along LAC

New Delhi: Even as Indian and Chinese militaries talk to de-escalate and disengage at the borders in eastern Ladakh, Indian intelligence agencies said on Wednesday that Chinese People’s Liberation Army has brought in troops of two more divisions along the Line of Actual Control near the disputed areas. The PLA troops have been deployed on the Chinese side of the LAC.

This will escalate the matter even though South Xinjiang military chief Major-General Liu Lin had agreed to disengage troops from Galwan Valley during talks with Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, the commander of Leh-based XIV corps.

“In total, China has deployed around 24,000 soldiers more in the eastern Ladakh region,” sources told the media, adding that a division comprises 12,000 soldiers. Sources further stated that the Chinese forces have also brought in heavy guns, tanks and fighter aircraft across the Line of Actual Control in a bid to aggravate the border situation.

In the Tibet region, China generally stations two divisions of troops. But now they have brought in two more divisions from far away locations. This clearly signifies that they are not committed to their consensus of disengagement.

India is closely watching the development across the Line of Actual Control and has decided to carry out mirror deployment in the region.

In the meantime, on Tuesday, the talks between the Indian and Chinese military delegates to resolve the border issue in eastern Ladakh went on for around 12 hours.

The meeting took place at Chushul wherein India has put a strong message that China’s People’s Liberation Army troops have not been aided by the disengagement consensus.

This was the third meeting between the two sides. The last two meetings at Corps Commander level were held on June 6 and June 22.

The meeting took place on the lines of the one they held at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting (BPM) point in eastern Ladakh on June 6.

June 15 was the first time the Indian Army faced casualties in a clash with the China’s People’s Liberation Army since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

Image courtesy of IANS

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