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China wanted ‘no escalation’ on hotline call in the day, tried to capture territory at night

Hours before trying to push in 1,000 soldiers near Pangong Tso on 28 August, Chinese PLA had called Indian Army to avoid escalatory action and night patrolling.

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New Delhi: China’s People’s Liberation Army contacted Indian forces on 28 August through the local hotline at Chushul, and both sides talked about refraining from any escalatory action and to avoid night patrolling. But later that night, the PLA moved in over 1,000 troops to capture Indian territory on the southern bank of Pangong Tso, government sources told ThePrint.

Indian soldiers thwarted the move, outflanking the PLA and capturing heights up to India’s perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Government sources also confirmed a 2 September report by ThePrint, which said the Indian Army had climbed up the ridgeline near Finger 4 on the northern bank of the lake, is dominating positions and is face to face with Chinese soldiers, albeit at a distance.

They also said it is difficult to predict the trajectory of the face-off.


Also read: Provocative Chinese troops fired warning shots at Pangong, not us, Indian Army says


Hotline conversation

Giving details of the hotline conversation on 28 August, government sources said the Chinese had contacted the Indian side during the day.

“The Indian and Chinese commanders spoke about not taking any escalatory steps. The Chinese also mentioned that night patrolling should not be done. The moment the Chinese mentioned this, our ears went up, because Chinese words and actions don’t match,” a government source said.

As reported by ThePrint, at about 11 pm on 28 August, an Indian surveillance team first noticed the movement of some Chinese armoured personnel carriers (APCs) in Moldo.

This was followed by drone surveillance, and the PLA troops’ movement indicated they were going towards the LAC, and to a specific feature.

Indian troops specialising in mountain warfare raced against time and managed to outflank the Chinese and dominate several heights, giving India strategic hold over the Reqin Pass and Spanggur Gap in the hills in the Chushul sector.

India now at dominant positions

Government sources said following the events of 28 and 29 August and a redeployment of troops, India now has dominating positions along the southern bank of Pangong Tso, and has also beefed up its presence on the northern bank as well as in the overall Chushul sector.

“The Army is in adequate numbers at significant positions. Any attempts by the Chinese to move in will be countered strongly,” the source cited above said.

Speaking about China bringing in heavy artillery and even armoured columns, sources said India too has deployed a lot of equipment and soldiers.

Asked about the prospects of war, sources said the forces are on high alert and a small face-off, as has been happening over the last one week, could keep happening.

“Things do build up to a full-blown conflict but so far there have been only pinpricks. The Chinese deployment right now is non-tactical,” a source said.


Also read: This is what led China to open fire in Ladakh on Monday for the first time in 45 years


 

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23 COMMENTS

  1. If China , the land grabber, with uncivilized behaviour becomes sole superpower world will have to go to sleep with one eye kept open all the time !!!
    What say the world ???

    • It will curtail the BJP-RSS Hindus from mischief !

      As for the rest of the world – at least all our neighbours prefer China to India.

  2. God save this world if China ( the Rouge state with uncivilized behaviour ) , a land grabber, becomes lone superpower.
    World will have to go to sleep with one eye open all the time !!!
    What say the world???

  3. The dragon has grown too big for its shoes.While the valiant Jawans at the front are making them see stars even during the day time, our business class has to pitch in to help India by closing all trade with the Monster. It is a sin to help the Monster by incurring an adverse balance of trade with the Dragon, All profits made by China shall go in fortifying the People’s Army .MUST AVOID THAT

  4. Chinese Army sues for “non escalation” during the day and tries to take territory by night. This is like my ex Wife’s family! (Or any Indian Appellate Judge). But my father-in-law was an Indian General!

  5. The Indian army has a long experience with the Chinese.When the Chinese say no to war then be very careful by nightfall they will wage a war.Deceit is what Chinese are made of, remember the Chinese grin of the Chinese waving the Indian & Chinese flag before Chou Enlai’s visit to India & chanting Hindi- Chini Bhai-Bhai.They are no one’s Bhai & no one’s sister.They are the biggest liars.
    When dealing with the Chinese India needs to think & act like a Chinese.

    • ‘When dealing with the Chinese India needs to think & act like a Chinese.’

      Hindus do not have the brains for that. They prefer fighting with minorities in India.

  6. China can’t be trusted at all.. India should be ready for the long haul.. let the winters come and let the Chinese have their soldiers face tough conditions of the winter.. our soldiers are already battle hardened by facing conditions in Siachin and Kargill.. it is then we should move for the kill and acquire the aksai chin area that we lost in 1962.

    • ‘…it is then we should move for the kill and acquire the aksai chin area that we lost in 1962.’

      Don’t overestimate Hindu capabilities.

  7. Why is India not doing similar moves like China. We should also learn to confuse them. Our soldiers though highly disciplined should carry weapons hidden under their clothes for their own protection. A soldiers life is the most precious thing for our country.

  8. Chinese PLA is the epitome of trecheary. Every word should be evalusted and reverse calculation should be done to predict the next step.

  9. If we have brave and courageous soldier like 1971 war hero Flying Officer K.P.Muralidharan MIA whom the IAF bileatedly and repeatly recommended MAha Vir Chakra posthumously than we don’t have to bother whether the Chinese attacks us in day or night.we can give befitting reply to them. Our soldiers can be motivated only if the IAF and CDS give him his pending dues by recognising and giving him his award, which the govt say Time Bar For Bravery . Jai Hind.

  10. This is reactive move. On seeing their movement we started. If these tops were in our LAC and so strategic overseeing sppangur pass and Moldo garrison, then why we were not stationed /captured tops one month back. Afterall China had planted camera and servilience equipment on these tops means they had been there. Afterall China’s accumulation there was not just in August. From fingers 4-8 they were sitting in our area and not moving. So need to circle them and force out of the, area looks option available.
    Secondly, our response and media attention moves when China makes certain move in some area. What’s the situation at Depsang and other areas where such minute details are not reveled. Our Army can definitely capture high points, strategic heights there so that we really pre-empt China move there. Or we can make move aggressive, where China is not there I. E. Make them react to our tune and we have leverage to force them negotiate.

  11. Same Indo-Chini Bhai Bhai nonsense again — read Mao’s book to understand their strategy — deceive, talk during the day, attack at night — retreat when attacked, attack when enemy retreats.

    India truly has a jackpot in terms of bad neighbors.

    • ‘India truly has a jackpot in terms of bad neighbors.’

      Alternative view : India is run by Hindus who do not know how to make friendship with neighbours.

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