China Halts Disengagement In Ladakh, 40,000 Chinese Troops Still Present In Forward Areas Along LAC: Sources

22 July, 2020

Despite multiple rounds of deliberation at both diplomatic and military levels, the Chinese seem to have fallen short of disengagements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. At present, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is maintaining over 40,000 troops in the region.

“The situation is such that after the Corps Commander-level talks, the Chinese have almost stopped the disengagement process with India at friction points and in the front and depth areas also, they are maintaining a heavy presence of troops who can be numbered easily to be around 40,000,” top government sources told India Today.

With the Chinese shying away from any commitments during previous discussions, senior-level intervention like the one by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval a couple of weeks ago could be required, sources added.

Earlier in July, NSA Doval had interacted with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both Special Representatives. The two discussed initial phases of disengagement at Galwan Valley, finger area (Pangong) and Patrolling Points 17 and 17A.

While the PLA did begin dismantling infrastructure at Finger 4 and moved back to Finger 5, the Chinese Army is far from moving out of the finger area that India has always claimed is on its side of the LAC.

Permanent location of PLA troops was noted at Sirijap but soldiers have now moved forward and want to build an observation post near Finger 5. China has also halted all movement from depth areas and is maintaining its assets, including air defence systems. With these latest developments, it would not be unsubstantiated to presume that the Chinese are in no hurry to move out from forward areas along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

Courtesy: Opera News/ msn.com