China conducts massive manoeuvres a day after talks with India to resolve border dispute
DHARAMSALA, 8 June: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has conducted a large-scale manoeuvre operation sending a mixed message to India a day after the two sides held talks and agreed to “peacefully resolve” the border face-off.
The PLA’s massive manoeuvre operation featured thousands of paratroopers plus armoured vehicles to the country’s high-altitude northwestern region over a long distance from Central China’s Hubei Province amid border tensions between China and India, reported the Chinese state-run Global Times.
The report boasted that the entire process was completed in a few hours and that it demonstrated Beijing’s capability of quick border defence reinforcement when required.
According to media reports, the two sides held talks on Saturday at Moldo, opposite Chushul in eastern Ladakh to defuse the border tension and agreed to “peacefully resolve” the latest flare-up that saw the two sides mobilise heavy military presence along the border.
Lt Gen Harinder Singh, Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps led the India delegation while Major General Liu Lin, Commander of the South Xinjiang military region, led the Chinese side.
“Both sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in the border areas in accordance with various bilateral agreements,” the foreign ministry said in a statement it issued after the meet.
India has further stated that it was prepared for the long haul in its dealings with Beijing over the faceoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh,
“The two sides will continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” New Delhi said.
