Face-off between Indian and Chinese armies along LAC continues as Modi meets Jinping in New Delhi

As reported earlier, the present dispute along the LAC pertains to two places – at Chumar, where the troops of the two countries have been on a face-off and at Depsang, where the Chinese tribals have pitched tents. Trouble began in Chumar last week when the Chinese brought heavy equipment on their side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to construct a road. India objected to the construction, following which the Chinese side had sought a flag meeting, which took place on Monday, but remained inconclusive.

At Demchok, the Chinese wrecked up construction of an irrigation canal citing that the Indian Army is using the construction of the canal – National rural employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) work to create supporting infrastructure for military purpose along the LAC.

On Wednesday, a “low-level” flag meeting was held between the two armies at Chushul. India is learnt to have escalated its concerns to their Chinese counterparts. “We had asked the Chinese side to come back after the flag meeting on Monday remained inconclusive. As a result, a low-level flag meeting, meaning one involving lower ranking officers, was held at about 5.30 pm. The Indian side raised its concerns with the Chinese side. The meeting took place in Chushul. No further details of the meeting are available,” sources said.

The flag meetings are normally held by officers of a rank equivalent to a Brigadier. But Wednesday meeting is believed to have been held between officers of the rank below that of a Brigadier-equivalent.

It may be noted that a similar face-off between the troops of the two countries had also taken place at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) area of Ladakh last year. The two sides have signed a Protocol in 2005 on “Modalities for the Implementation of Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field Along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas”, which is believed to have been reminded by the Indian side during the flag meetings.