Indian fighter jets roared over a flashpoint Himalayan region Wednesday as part of a show of strength following what military sources say has been a Chinese takeover of contested territory. India reinforced Ladakh areas, even as the top brass of both countries is working together to resolve issues.
Chinese forces have held onto a chunk of land covering several square kilometres (miles) at the mouth of the Galwan valley following a deadly brawl there on June 15, the Indian military sources said.
India reinforces Ladakh military base at Leh
The two sides publicly declared they would pull back following the clash, which saw 20 Indian soldiers killed in a battle involving rocks and nail-studded batons.
But both have maintained troops around the valley, with India deploying more forces and trying to project military might.
Read more: Policing the Ladakh border: a task and a half for India
Indian jets regularly took off Wednesday from a military base in Leh, the main Indian town in the contested region, and headed towards the mountainous border 240 kilometres (150 miles) away.
There were also checkpoints on main roads out Leh and a frenzy of military activity around the main town, which lies at 3,500 metres (11,500 feet).
Residents reported long lines of military trucks and artillery on roads near Leh.
#Indian leaders understand how powerful China is, while Indian nationalists are ignorant and arrogant, “So they might say some harsh words, but they dare not take the first shot at us.” #ChinaIndiaFaceoff https://t.co/v91dSgyV5e pic.twitter.com/nmqmx9Pk8U
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 21, 2020
“We now have a good strength present in the area,” an official of the Indian army’s Northern Command said on condition of anonymity, referring to the reinforcements.
Tashi Chhepal, a retired Indian army captain who has served in the area and is based in Leh, said the mobilisation was unprecedented in a sensitive region touching Pakistan as well as China.
“I haven’t seen this kind of military movement before,” he said.
China defiant as India reinforces Ladakh
After the latest round of talks between military commanders on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the two sides had “agreed to take necessary measures to promote a cooling of the situation”.
But they made similar comments after a fist-fight in May that proved to be a warmup for the medieval-style battle at Galwan.
Images taken on Sunday by the US satellite firm Maxar showed trucks and huts at camps on the river at 4,500 metres (15,000 feet) near the scene of the fighting. It was not clear whose army they were.
Read more: Pakistan takes China’s side in Ladakh border clash
The two countries fought a border war in 1962 but this month’s fighting was their deadliest encounter in 53 years.
According to Indian military sources, Chinese troops ambushed Indian soldiers and forced them down a ridge where they had gone to remove a Chinese “encroachment”.
A bilateral accord prevents the use of guns, but the fighting was still fierce, reportedly with rocks and batons wrapped with barbed wire.
China has in turn accused Indian soldiers of twice crossing the Line of Actual Control, the unofficial boundary, provoking its troops.
But the Chinese appear to be sticking to their gains at Galwan and the nearby Pangong Tso lake, police intelligence as well as military sources said.
China is now claiming the valley as its own, in statements that India has rejected.
Pakistan still a bigger threat than China in India
Indian analysts are dubious of the chances of a major easing of the tensions or that India will reclaim the territory.
Harsh Pant from the Observer Research Foundation think-tank in New Delhi said: “Anything that the Chinese now say can’t be taken on face value. India, hopefully, has learnt its lessons now.”
Amid calls for a boycott of Chinese goods, media reports say Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government could make it more difficult for Chinese companies to do business.
Any potential military conflict between China and US will get third countries in the Asia-Pacific region involved, and the last thing they want is to choose sides, as US is practicing Cold War mentality: Chinese report https://t.co/f6IyYrdNhj pic.twitter.com/5QdYJswfNd
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 21, 2020
But analysts say there is recognition on both sides that their economies need each other. Chinese publication Global Times said that any conflict happening now is a proxy between the greater US-China cold war.
Read more: India’s irresponsible government is adding fuel to Ladakh fire: Dr. Moeed Pirzada
“There may be some short term public backlash against China in India, but publicly, Pakistan swamps China as a perceived threat,” said Vipin Narang, a security specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“The effects of this crisis, even if it slow burns, may be short lived amongst India’s public. And cheap TVs are still cheap TVs.”
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk
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