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Topic of the week for discussion: 9th to 15 th May 2013

Topic: Taming the Dragon

The Chinese soldiers have intruded 19 km deep into eastern and have pitched one more tent near the face-off site in Depsang Valley.In a deep incursion, Chinese troops have entered the Indian territory in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in eastern Ladakh and erected a tented post, setting the stage for a face-off with Indian troops.A Platoon-strength contingent of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) came 10 km inside the Indian territory in Burthe in DBO sector, which is at an altitude of about 17,000 feet, on the night of April 15 and established a tented post there, according to highly placed sources, which said that a Chinese Army Platoon usually consists of around 50 men. Troops from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have also established a camp approximately 300 meters opposite the location, the sources said. ITBP has asked for a Flag meeting with the Chinese side but there has been no response as of now, sources said.

When contacted, the spokesman of Udhampur-based Northern Command Col Rajesh Kalia said," due to differences in perception of the (LAC) a few face-offs take place in the eastern Ladakh side. These are resolved amicably through existing mechanism." He refused to elaborate. The Ladakh Scouts, an Infantry regiment of the and specializing in

mountain warfare, has also moved towards the area where the situation was Topic described as tense. The place has not been known to have any permanent

Introduction civilian population.

DBO, located in northernmost Ladakh, is an historic camp site and located on an ancient trade route connecting Ladakh to Yarkand in , China. It lies at the easternmost point of the Range in a cold desert region in the far north of , just 8 km south of the Chinese border and 9 km northwest of the LAC between China and India. Temperature plummets as low as minus 30 degree Celsius in the winters. Other than military base, it is India's northernmost built-up area. The nearest inhabited town is to the south, which has a small population of Baltis who primarily depend on apricot farming and yak rearing. On the fifth such structures erected after the incursion on April 15, government however assesses that the standoff was a localized affair and would be resolved soon. In response to banners by Indian troops that said Chinese troops had intruded into Indian territory, Chinese intruders have put banners proclaiming the territory as their own. Their side banners read.”You are in Chinese Side”

Shouldn’t Indian government retaliate and take the matter seriously? According to leading English daily, an infantry regiment of the army specialised in mountain warfare has been sent to Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in Ladakh. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) reportedly erected a tent post near the one set up by the intruding troops. The Chinese have reportedly intruded the Indian Territory on April 15.This is not the first time that Chinese troops have entered deep into the Indian territory. A second flag meeting between the local military commanders of the two countries on the latest Chinese intrusion is scheduled to be held. Army Chief General Bikram Singh is also set to begin his two-day visit to Jammu and on Tuesday.

India had raised the issue with the Chinese authorities last week immediately after the intrusion came to light. The MEA joint secretary, who is heading the India- China joint working mechanism to deal with issues on the international boundary from the Indian side, spoke to his Chinese counterpart in Beijing last week to resolve the matter. Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai had summoned Chinese Ambassador Wei Wei, to South Block, to discuss the need for resolving the matter, sources said. The Chinese side said they will look into the matter and respond accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi reiterated the comments made by the foreign ministry spokesperson in Beijing, Hua Chunying, on Monday. Chunying had said that the Chinese border troops always abided by the Line of Actual Control (LAC) agreed by the two neighbors. He said the Chinese troops had been patrolling on their side of the LAC and never violated the LAC. Hua said there is a great deal of speculation on the border incursion issue in Indian media. "I noticed that some Indian officials made relevant remarks. Please refer to them", she said apparently pointing to the comments. Chinese sources said Beijing was always ready to work with India to further the coordination and cooperation on the boundary issues.

India's Defence Minister A K Antony said on Monday that India will take every possible step to protect its interests in the border issue.Observers say China's stand defending its "incursion" is puzzling as it may result in raising of a new dispute on the much agreed LAC by the two countries which brought about sense calm while they negotiated the boundary dispute.

Deepened diplomatic engagement with China finally ended the 21-day border standoff in eastern Ladakh on Sunday, with both armies agreeing to simultaneously pull out of the site and go back to pre-April 15 positions. “They began cleaning up on Sunday evening. By morning, everything will be back to normal,” a government source said.

These moves by Chinese side have challenged India's assessment that the crisis may blow over by May 9 when external affairs minister Salman Khurshid is set to visit Beijing. Do you think that it is a localized affair?

Read further: http://www.coolavenues.com/planning-mba/mba-aspirant/group-discussion/group-discussion- topic-chinese-intrusion-indian-territory

http://news.oneindia.in/2013/04/23/chinese-intrusion-india-mobilises-more-troops-ladakh- 1200170.html

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Chinese-troops-intrude-10-km-inside- Ladakh-erect-a-tented-post/Article1-1047178.aspx