16th round of India-China talks to de-escalate tensions along Ladakh LAC fail

New Delhi: – The 16th round of talks between India and China to de-escalate tensions along the LAC in Ladakh proved fruitless as well. The armies of the two countries have issued a joint statement announcing that the process of talks will continue. However, China’s state-run newspaper claimed that the talks were very positive, urging India and China not to allow the West to have a detrimental effect on their dialogue. While the news of these talks is doing the rounds, China has released videos of military exercises near the Pangong Lake area of Ladakh.

Moreover, China is unwilling to accept India’s demand for a complete withdrawal from the region near the LAC in Ladakh. India is firm that the tension on the LAC in Ladakh cannot be defused unless China complies with the demand. Due to this concrete stand adopted by the two countries, nothing came of the 16th round of talks. The armies of both the countries have announced to continue the talks in a positive atmosphere and resolve the dispute amicably. The matter was mentioned in a joint statement released after the discussion. A similar joint statement was issued after the 15th round of talks.

Currently, China has withdrawn from the north and south banks of Pangong Lake and Gogra in Ladakh as per India’s demand. But Chinese troops are still stationed near the Kugrang Nala in the Chang Chenmo sector. India says that the Chinese soldiers should also withdraw from this place and restore the situation as it was before. But China feels that withdrawing from this place will harm its reputation. That is why China is not ready to accept this demand from India. But India is making China aware that there is no other option before China. Otherwise, the relations between the two countries will remain strained.

Furthermore, China is paying a heavy price for not acceding to India’s demand. India has initiated strict action against Chinese products and companies and is continuing with a spate of sanctions. At the same time, after the conflict of Galwan, the agitated Indians started turning their backs on Chinese products. In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine and the economic uncertainty that followed, significant countries worldwide are competing to establish cooperation with India, which has a huge market. But China is far behind in this competition. Paying this economical price, China is taking steps to maintain tension on LAC in Ladakh.

Even on Tuesday, China released videos of military exercises near the Pangong Lake area on its state media. This country’s struggle shows that they are not bowing in front of India.