New Delhi: Top tactical army commanders of India and China will meet Saturday at Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting (BPM) point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The meeting will take place at around 9:30 am, during which the Indian side will press for maintaining the “earlier status quo”.
Sources in the know told ThePrint that the “unusual scale of violence” by Chinese troops and build-up along the LAC by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) consisting of artillery and armoured columns within their territory are among the issues that will be raised by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh.
The senior officer will be meeting the chief of China’s Southern Xinjiang Military District, as reported by ThePrint earlier.
“We have been clear from the very beginning that the earlier status quo has to be maintained. We were not the first to start the troop build-up and were neither the first to block any patrol activity,” a source said.
He added that India is seeking a return to the status as of April this year.
“This has been our demand from the very beginning in all the talks held so far. They have to go back to the earlier status quo as of April this year,” the source said.
Lt Gen Singh will be accompanied by senior officers from the 14 Corps of Army, which looks after the Ladakh region.
While a complete de-escalation is unlikely to come out of the meeting, India would be looking at some kind of confidence measuring measures.
A second source said the scale of violence by the Chinese in physical blocking of patrols is serious and will not be tolerated.
“The use of stones, sticks with nails and others have been unusual and pretty serious. This cannot be allowed to continue and an objection will be raised. Also, there is an understanding at local level wherein both sides patrol to their perception of LAC. Blocking of such patrols by setting up some kind of a structure or post is not done.”
Also read: Ladakh military operation has President Xi Jinping’s sanction: China expert Jayadeva Ranade
China’s objection to construction activities on Indian side
Talking about the Chinese objections to road construction activity, one of the sources quoted above said, “The construction is happening on our side of the LAC and within the allowed distance from the LAC. If the Chinese raise this, this is exactly what will be told.”
The proposed lieutenant general-level talks come after multiple rounds of military dialogue, at various levels, failed to achieve any breakthrough even as diplomatic parleys continue between New Delhi and Beijing to calm the situation in eastern Ladakh, which has seen a heavy troop build-up and transgressions at a number of locations since early May.
During these talks at a lower level, India had demanded that China revert to status quo along the LAC even as the Chinese sought a stoppage of construction activities by India near the LAC.
Even though China has also spoken about resolving differences through talks, the Indian Army is waiting for the former’s diplomatic words to translate into action on the ground.
Also read: Ladakh shows Modi is risking relations with China by getting too close to Trump
Lockheed looks to sell additional F-16s to customers in Africa, Asia and South America
•Lockheed Martin anticipates another wave of international F-16 sales, to countries in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia, according to the company’s chief financial officer.
• According the CFO, it is a good fourth-generation aircraft for those customers who cannot afford the F-35 or buy it as this time. It might be a good intermediary step for customers to go from the F-16 to F-35, so Lockheed sees it as complementary and not competing against themselves.
Pakistan reportedly starts receiving VT4 main battle tanks from China
• Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO), is reportedly starting to deliver new VT4 main battle tanks to Pakistan which is to receive at least 100 units.
• The MBT-3000, also named VT4 for the export version, is a new generation of main battle tank designed and manufactured by NORINCO.
• According to this company, the MBT-3000 benefits from the latest technology for main battle tanks specially designed to meet the challenge of high-tech warfare. Its overall performance and combat capability puts this tank among the most advanced ones in the world.
Germany to order 45 F-18 fighter jets from Boeing
• Germany will order 45 fighter aircraft from Boeing Co. to replace the Luftwaffe’s aging Tornado jets, according to the magazine Der Spiegel.
• Germany will order 30 F/A-18 Super Hornets and 15 EA-18G Growlers.
I agree with Colonel Vishwanathan. Some matters should not be discussed in these domains.
Should we be discussing live military matters in public domain? The media needs to reflect on its utility. Information? to whom for what? Advice to whom, by whom for what?
Matters of active defence matters in the face of the enemy should not be discussed in the public domain. This is not about free speech, freedom, free information, democracy et al. It is about compromising the elbow room of local commanders and diplomats…and in some cases spreading misinformation