No major escalation expected along India-China border during summer: Officials
New Delhi: The Indian security establishment expects no major escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China during summer as both sides are set to start patrolling after extreme cold weather on the contentious line.
The consensus in defence circles is that with Chinese President Xi Jingping having secured a third term, there was no reason to rake up patriotic feelings by escalating the situation at the border.
“From time to time, the Chinese may try to raise the issue of patriotism but no major escalation is anticipated. Recently, the Chinese held a contest in which the winners were supposed to be sent to Galwan. The Chinese have not fought any major battle after the Korean war, so Galwan has been a major thing for them,” senior officials said.
For India, the focus will be on resolving issues at other stand-off points and restoring the status quo that prevailed before May 2020. “The next round of Corps Commanders meeting will be held soon. The dates have not been fixed yet,” officials in the know said.
The 17th India-China Corps Commander meeting was held on December 20 at Chushul-Moldo.
Since the stand-off began in April, 2020 between the two nations in the Ladakh sector, forces on both sides have disengaged in Galwan, Pangong Tso, Gogra (PP-17A) and Gogra-Hotsprings general area (Patrolling Point-15).
However, the stand-off still continues at two friction points — Demchock and Depsang plains — where PLA forces have blocked Indian troops from patrolling. This was the third consecutive winter when India and Chinese deployed forces in forward positions.
