India and China's military talk on Ladakh's LAC while the tension on the

New Delhi/Washington: As tensions in the Yangtze area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector escalated due to Chinese intrusion, military officials of India and China held talks to de-escalate tensions along the LAC in Ladakh. This became the 17th round of talks between the two countries’ armies to de-escalate the tension. Not much was achieved in the talks. While this surfaces, news of the discussion between India and the US defence Chiefs has come to the fore. In this discussion, Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and US Chief of Defence Staff Mark Milley expressed their determination to expand regional and global security cooperation between the two countries.

A few days ago, a joint military exercise between the Indian and US armies was held near the LAC in Uttarakhand. China objected to this military exercise and said that this military exercise was a violation of the border agreement signed by India with China. Both India and the United States responded to this objection. Besides, India said the war exercise did not violate any agreement. However, the Chinese army tried to infiltrate the Yangtze area in the Tawang sector after this military exercise. But the Indian soldiers intercepted the Chinese soldiers in time and thwarted this infiltration attempt. While this discussion was held in India, talks were held between the two countries’ armies to de-escalate the tension on the LAC in Ladakh.

Moreover, the two countries held talks on the Chushul-Moldo border. This became the 17th round between military officials of the two countries to de-escalate tensions along the LAC in Ladakh. However, nothing much came out of this discussion held on December 20. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has said that military officials of both countries have agreed to resolve the border dispute through negotiations. The previous round of discussions had even set a similar tone.

Meanwhile, as the tension between India and China continues to rise, a telephonic conversation between India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, and US Chief of Defense Staff, General Mark Milley, was reported. The talks were claimed to be a step towards broadening defence cooperation between the two countries. General Milley claimed that India’s role has been important for an open and free Indo-Pacific region, and India has been a major power in this region. The United States had indirectly and directly accused China’s expansionist activities of increasing instability, imbalance and insecurity in the Indo-Pacific region. In such a situation, the United States seems to appreciate the Indian contribution to this region by saying that India was a country that contributes to the stability.

The US defence forces have been taking a special initiative for cooperation with India. The senior officers of the US defence forces have consistently demanded that the US know the importance of India at the strategic level and take planned steps to increase cooperation with India.