Indian Ministry of Defence’s statement regarding current India-China disengagement
On 20th February, the tenth round of the China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was held on the Chinese side of the Chushul or Moldo border meeting point. Both sides positively appraised the smooth conclusion of disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong Lake area noting that it was an important step forward that provided a good basis for resolution of the other remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector as per the Ministry of Defence’s statement.
They also added that both sides agreed to follow the important consensus of their state leaders, continue their dialogue and communication, stabilize and control the situation on the ground, thrust for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining matters in a steady and orderly manner, so as to combinedly maintain peace & tranquillity in the border areas.
Both countries head’s statement regarding current India-China disengagement
Indian side viewpoint
- As of now, the disengagement process seems restricted to the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, according to the statement made by Rajnath Singh.
- As per the statement made by Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha, ‘both countries will remove the forward deployment in a coordinated, phased & verified manner’. India will position its forces at its permanent base at the Dhan Singh Thapa post near to the Finger 3.
- Similarly, China will also pull its troops on the north bank towards the east of Finger 8. Similar steps will be taken by both the sides in the south bank area as well.”
- Both parties have also agreed that the area between Finger 3 & Finger 8 will become a no-patrolling zone temporarily, till both parties reach an agreement through military and diplomatic discussions in order to restore patrolling.
- Further, all the construction done by both parties on the north & south banks of the lake since April 2020 will be removed.
- Sources in the security establishment have brought up that the process has started with the pulling back of particular columns of tanks from the south bank region by both sides. At the moment, there is no pullback of the troops from the friction points and the heights they are positioned on. This process will happen in a phased & verified manner. The ground commanders have initiated a meeting since Tuesday to figure out the nitty-gritty of the process.
Chinese side viewpoint
- According to the Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defence’s statement, ‘The Chinese & Indian frontline troops at the northern and southern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake start organized and synchronized disengagement from 10th’
- He also added this move is in accordance with the consensus reached by both parties at the ninth-round of the China and India Corps Commander Level Meeting.
It is critical to note that the process, as announced, will send Indian & Chinese troops back to their traditional bases on the north bank. Whereas India has its traditional base at the Dhan Singh Thapa Post, precisely west of Finger 3, China has had its base east of Finger 8.
Why is this area critical?
- The north & south banks of Pangong Tso are two of the most important and sensitive regions when it comes to the present standoff that began in May 2020. What makes the areas around the shores of the lake so sensitive and significant is that clashes here marked the starting of the standoff; it is one among the areas where the Chinese troops had come around 8 kilometres deep west of India’s perception of the LAC.
- China had stationed its troops on the ridgeline connecting Fingers 3 & 4, whereas according to India the LAC passes via Finger 8.
- Further, it is on the south bank of the lake that the Indian forces in an action in late August had gained the strategic advantage by occupying some certain peaks, outwitting the Chinese. Indian troops had stationed themselves on heights of Magar Hill, Gurung Hill, Mukhpari, Rezang La and Rechin La, which were unoccupied by either of the two sides previously. Since then, the Chinese side had been specifically sensitive as these positions allowed India to not only dominate Spanggur Gap, which is a 2 kilometres wide valley that can be used to launch an offensive, as China had done in the year 1962, they also allow India direct access of China’s Moldo Garrison.
- After this particular action, India had also re-positioned its troops on the north bank to capture heights overlooking the Chinese positions on the north bank as well.
- During this hustling, warning shots had been fired more than once. And the troops from both sides had been sitting just a few hundred metres apart from each other at various of these heights, making the particular region a tinderbox.
Does this mean that the standoff is resolved?
The answer to this question is clearly no. We can say this, as Rajnath Singh said in his statement that ‘there are still few outstanding issues which remain regarding deployment & patrolling on LAC’ and mentioned that ‘our attention will be on these in further discussions’.
The two sides agree that complete disengagement under the bilateral agreements & protocols should be done as soon as possible. After the discussions so far, China is even aware of our resolve to protect the sovereignty of the nation. He also added that it is our expectation that China will work with India seriously to resolve the remaining issues.
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