New Delhi: The eventual game plan of Chinese incursions in the Galwan Valley seems to be to desist India from carrying out any new construction beyond the confluence of the Shyok-Galwan river, sources in the defence and security establishment have told ThePrint.
The Chinese also seek to restrict Indian patrols to the same point, located 4.5 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), rather than until Patrol Point 14, which is 500 metres from the border (according to the 1960 claim line of China) and marks the status quo before the PLA incursions began in May, the sources said.
However, the sources added, the Army is standing its ground and has demanded that the status quo as of early April be maintained.
According to the sources, while the Chinese have been objecting to the 60-metre-long bridge over the Shyok river, which was completed by India during the stand-off earlier this month, the real problem was “certain construction” being carried out by India beyond the confluence point.
The sources remained tight-lipped about the exact nature of this construction, but indicated that it was some kind of a track, possibly a temporary structure meant to ease the movement of personnel and not vehicles.
“To reach PP14, the patrol team had to wade through the water about five times,” said one of the sources.
Latest satellite imagery from the area shows some kind of a bridge connection near the Y-Axis area, which is about a kilometre and a half from the LAC, in May, but is no longer visible.
Time series at #Galwan shows how two patches of land, connected by multiple structures in May, had been disconnected by June with defensive walls on either side; raising questions on how structures across the river were supposedly built by India without physical access pic.twitter.com/YuhAaW96Tp
— d-atis☠️ (@detresfa_) June 26, 2020
Fresh satellite images presumably also show a new “wall” kind of structure, which seems to have been built by India. This comes amid increased Chinese presence in the area and the reappearance of the Chinese observation point on India’s side of the LAC, at the mouth of the Galwan Valley, whose destruction by the Army triggered the 15 June clash.
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Chinese push in Galwan Valley
According to the understanding established earlier at the local level, Indians would patrol until Patrol Point 14. However, the Chinese now seem to be trying to push ahead.
While the Chinese have laid claim to the entire Galwan Valley in government announcements, sources said the Chinese, in talks at various levels, have demanded that the Indian patrol team should not cross the confluence of Shyok and Galwan.
The Galwan Valley is strategically important for both sides because it gives India direct access to Aksai Chin, Indian territory under Chinese occupation.
The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said Thursday that, in early May, the Chinese side had taken action to hinder India’s normal, traditional patrolling pattern in the Galwan Valley area.
He added that the resulting face-off was addressed by the ground commanders in keeping with the provisions of bilateral agreements and protocols.
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Seems to be a very simplistic explanation for massive mobilization on the entire stretch of LAC. Not convincing at all.
Bharat had objected to CPEC as Gilgit-Baltistan is its territory. It violates its sovereignty and national interest. Yet dragon continued to build infrastructure with complete disregard for Bharat’s objection and concern.
Every agreement understanding were thrown out the window resulting in compromised sovereignty, National security and business interest.
At what time the policy makers would stop appeasing the dragon without losing its territory, sovereignty and national interest.
From this point of view there is nothing on the table from Bharat side.
Yeah, keep blaming dad at home for you failing in your class !!
This is the result of years of connivance of Corrupt Congress with China.
The solution is:
#1 . Throw Congress out
#2 Throw China out.
Congress = Virus = China
Bhakts Bajan and hiding the failure of intelligence.
7 years in power, why the hell didn’t you get Aksai Chin? Who stopped you?
Taking pride of Surgical Strike which only folly will say it is great. But wise will know Pakistan is a dead snake beaten during Congress rule.
Congress created Bangladesh.
Dare to do surgical strike? Else search for your bell instead of Congress.
Congress handed Modified India great Economy.
Now petrol price is above ₹75/-, Diesel is above ₹75/- and Dollar is above ₹75/-, THE GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.
In six years have you ever heard of anything negative from PM or NDA against china?
We have enough of these nehru/gandhi excuses. Congress has been punished by people and its time this disastorous and pathetic govt get some stick too.
How much money did Paytm made after demonitization? I am sure nehru didnt force PM to appear for front page ad for paytm
True. Now Congress has started its full play as a China lobbyist.