Indian, Chinese patrols face off in Ladakh again
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy : TNN

New Delhi, July 22 2013: Indian and Chinese patrols were engaged in a 'banner drill' in the disputed Chumar area of Ladakh on July 16 with soldiers from both sides coming face-to-face.

Army sources said the incident took place when soldiers were patrolling in an area that both India and China claim as their own.

"It was nothing unusual, it happens occasionally," a senior Army officer said.

Sources said when the Chinese patrol party came into Chumar area on July 16, an Indian patrol that was in the vicinity came face-to-face with them.

The Chinese side had a couple of dozen soldiers, and not around 50 as was being reported, the sources said.

Both sides showed banners claiming the territory was theirs, and withdrew after some time, sources said.

Chumar is among several pockets on the India-China border where the perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) differs drastically between the two sides.

At least eight such major pockets exist across the 4,057-km LAC.

Thanks to bilateral agreements, there is no exchange of fire or serious military crisis.

Occasionally, the patrols come face to face, and lead to incidents like the one in Depsang in April.

After several days of face-to-face standoff, both sides withdrew to their original positions in Depsang.

In an earlier incident, patrolling Chinese troops had taken away a surveillance camera on June 17 placed by India in the disputed area.

After the Indian side lodged a protest at the local flag meeting, the camera was returned.

A senior source in the government said there was no qualitative difference in the way both sides have been patrolling.

However, he said unless both sides are able to find an amicable settlement to the border dispute, there would be occasional stand-offs and misunderstandings.

"Thankfully, we are guaranteed that no firing will happen there because of the CBMs in place," he said.

Both sides are presently engaged in discussing ways to improve tranquility along the border.

Beijing has submitted a detailed note of a possible new agreement, and New Delhi has already responded to it.

The discussions are expected to continue.

The occasional face-offs are taking place against the backdrop of India's aggressive push to catch up with the impressive military and infrastructure capabilities China has built up along the entire border.

Last week, the Cabinet Committee on Security gave in-principle approval for raising the country's first Mountain Strike Corps, for offensive operations inside China.

India has also raised two divisions along the border.

There are a few dozen roads being developed by India, besides reactivation of old advance landing grounds along the forward areas.

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