Ladakh Standoff - India, China talks at an impasse

What is the issue?

Talks between senior military commanders of India and China to find a solution to the 17-month long Ladakh standoff have run into rough weather.

What is the past history of border point issue?

• Until 1960, China used to have a company stationed at Kongka La and Hot Springs which they increased to a regiment in the Hot Springs area by 1962.
• In 1962, China attacked India’s position in Hot Springs and Galwan Valley.
• In June 2020, 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers died in Galwan valley clashes.
• This is the first time after the 1962 War that soldiers have died in clashes on the India-China border in Ladakh.
• Hot Springs is the last of the friction points that the Army came up last year when China moved its troops across the LAC.
• Disengagement has been completed in other places like PP14 in Galwan Valley, PP17A in Gogra Post, and the north and south banks of Pangong Tso.

To know more about India-China Galwan faceoff, click here

Kongka La pass marks the border between two of China’s most sensitive provinces — Xinjiang to the north and Tibet to the south.

Why did the talks end in stalemate?

• The 13th round of talks held on the Chinese side of Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Sunday were aimed at discussing disengagement of troops at Hot Springs area of eastern Ladakh.
• However, the two sides blamed each other for the deadlock.
• India pointed out that the situation has been caused by unilateral attempts of Chinese side to alter the status quo in violation of bilateral agreements.
• New Delhi says that the Chinese delegation made no constructive proposals while Beijing says that the Indian side made unreasonable demands.

What does the deadlock mean?

• It means that Indian soldiers will spend a second winter in the icy heights of Ladakh Mountains where temperatures plummet to minus 30 degree Celsius.
• It is set to deepen the chill in India-China ties, given Beijing’s refusal to move its troops back from their current positions.
• Concerns are mounting over the military build-up and new infrastructure development along the disputed border by China.
• It creates a major hurdle in eventual de-escalation from the region where both sides have around 50,000 troops each, along with tanks, artillery guns, air defence assets.

Source: The Indian Express, Livemint