India China concur on fresh round of talks to defuse tension at Ladakh LAC

New Delhi – The Indian Ministry of External Affairs informed that India & China armies have agreed to hold the 14th round of talks over Ladakh LAC. The tensions over Ladakh’s LAC did not decrease even after thirteen rounds of discussions. However, the two countries have agreed to resolve the issue through dialogue, as informed by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Moreover, reports published last year, indicated that the Chinese soldiers were regularly falling sick due to the severe winter in Ladakh. This year too, it seems that Chinese troops deployed on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh will have to bear the brunt due to the stubbornness of the Chinese government. However, Chinese government mouthpieces make laughable claims that Indian troops will have to endure more hardships this winter, whereas the Chinese Army is well prepared to face Ladakh winter. Such propaganda reflects the underlying restlessness and insecurity of China. To counter the situation in Ladakh, China has increased its military movements near the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. China is trying to divert global attention from its failure in Ladakh.

The Indian foreign ministry said in a statement that senior military officials from both countries would participate in the fourteenth round of talks to defuse tensions on the LAC. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had agreed during their talks at Dushanbe in September that the talks on political and military levels should be continued to resolve the border dispute.

Earlier, in the 13th round of talks held on October 10, the Indian Army offered some viable proposals to China to resolve the border dispute made public by the Indian Army. However, the proposal was rejected by Chinese military officials, who claimed that the proposals from the Indian side were unrealistic and inconsistent with the situation on the LAC. The Global Times, China’s official mouthpiece, had lashed out at India’s demands which they claimed were not in line with India’s capabilities and the situation on the LAC. As a result, tensions between the two countries escalated after the 13th round of talks.

Since the last talks, China has stepped up its military operations on the LAC by deploying new defence equipment and weapons to exert pressure on India. In response, India is answering back in the same language by deployments of equal proportion. Wary about India’s response, China has resorted to propaganda warfare to establish a narrative of gaining a lot against India on the LAC. However, the Indian Army will not tolerate the infiltration of the Chinese Army. Indian defence chief General Bipin Rawat and army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane have consistently said they will get a strong response. At the same time, the country’s military leadership is cautioning the public not to fall victim to the Chinese propaganda war.