From CK Nayak
New Delhi: On the eve of joint military exercise with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China next month in Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh MP and state BJP president, Tapir Gao on Thursday made a startling revelation that the PLA has put banners deep inside the Indian territory asking the India troops to go back and it was even complied with.
The Indian Army had denied any intrusion and stated that during monsoons whenever the water channel are in spate, temporary bridges are constructed by the patrol parties for their movement.
But Gao insisted that not only the Chinese troops intruded very much into the Indian
side but also forced them to shift their camp further down the valley.
Meanwhile, sources said that as part of bilateral defense cooperation, India and China will hold a joint military exercise on counter-terrorism, called ‘Hand-in-Hand’, in Meghalaya in December.
Sources said the exercise would enhance the capacity of both Indian and Chinese troops to respond to any emergency situation to counter terror.
Giving details, Gao said that in the Andrela Pass and Zinken Pass, the Chinese troops have painted trees in red to mark their presence and put a banner asking Indians to go back.
Before pushing back the Indian troops, the Chinese also rounded up them (about a hundred) and pushed them back below the valley.
A Defense spokesperson had earlier maintained that being an area of differing claims, troops routinely from either side patrol the area. In addition, civilian hunters and herb collectors also frequent here during the summer months.
“It is reiterated that there is no permanent presence of either Chinese soldiers or civilians in the area and surveillance is maintained by our troops”, the Army said.
Gao, however, provided photos which showed presence of PLA soldiers in the area.
Incidentally, the joint exercise between India and China was previously held in December last year at Chengdu. Company size contingents of the Indian Army’s 11 Sikh Light Infantry and a regiment from Tibetan Military District of the PLA participated in it.
But the two countries did not hold the exercise in 2017 because of heightened tension in the wake of the 72-day-long standoff between their troops in Doklam. The standoff brought a drastic change in ties between them.
While the strength of either side in Doklam has reduced, the Indian Army is continuously monitoring Chinese activities in the area. The exercise will take place in the backdrop of the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which has remained largely peaceful barring freak incidents.
The number of transgressions this year has reduced considerably as compared to last year, according to the Defence Ministry’s annual report. The percentage of face-offs during these transgressions has also reduced, it said.
On the other hand flag meetings between the two countries have increased following two informal summits between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Special Representatives of the two countries on the border issue are expected to meet again soon for their next round of talks.