Army Chief briefs CCS on Chinese incursion

The Army Chief General Bikram Singh on Wednesday briefed the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on the Chinese incursion in Eastern Ladakh.

“The CCS met and the Army Chief briefed us on the Ladakh situation,’’ Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, who is also a member of the CCS, told journalists after the meeting.

About 30 to 40 Chinese troops from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) intruded into the Indian territory in Eastern Ladakh’s Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector and established camps on April 15. According to Indian perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which remains disputed and undemarcated, the Chinese incursion is nearly 19 kms deep inside the Indian territory.

After three unsuccessful flag meetings between local commanders of the two sides and India making efforts through diplomatic channels and terming the incursion as a “localised problem’’, China has not yet retreated from the DBO sector in Depsang plains. The deadlock continues amid signs that the stand-off may prolong further with Chinese troops staying put for many more days or even augmenting their strength gradually.

The Army Chief is learnt to have given a detailed situation report about the face-off with the Chinese troops and options before the government to resolve the issue during nearly an hour-long briefing to the CCS members. Defence minister A K Antony, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde are other members of the CCS, which is chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Chinese side has been demanding dismantling of infrastru

cture on the Indian side in Eastern Ladakh that have come up in Fukche and Chumar as well as in the DBO sector. At the third flag meeting on Tuesday at Chushul between Brigadier-level officers from the two sides, India stated that Chinese troops should withdraw completely from the Indian territory.

Army sources said the formal event is known as a Border Personnel Meeting or BPM and are held four times every year. Chinese troops come over to celebrate India’s Republic Day on January 26 and Independence Day on August 15. India also reciprocates the friendly gesture on May 1 and October 1, the Chinese National Day.

source :  Indian – Aerospace/defense NEWS.‘s