Tensions seem to be deescalating at the border with the Communist Party of China’s mouth piece stating that both sides have started disengaging at the border after months long standoff.
The Chinese state-affiliated Global Times on 10 February published a direct quote from China’s Defence Ministry that said Chinese troops have begun disengagement on the southern and northern shores of the Pangong Lake.
As per reports, a consensus has been reached during the ninth round of military-commander talks between the two nations.
“Chinese and Indian border troops on the southern and northern shores of Pangong Lake began disengagement as planned on Wednesday according to the consensus reached during the ninth round of military commander-level talks,” the tweet from Global Times read.
Chinese and Indian border troops on the southern and northern shores of Pangong Lake began disengagement as planned on Wednesday according to the consensus reached during the ninth round of military commander-level talks, reports Chinese media quoting Chinese Defence Ministry pic.twitter.com/J9d0iOQFWg
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2021
China had amassed a massive military force that also involved tanks and some defence journalists have claimed that this engagement includes both Indian and China pulling back armoured columns from southern banks of Pangong Tso, however, the soldiers remain in their respective positions.
Senior defence journalist Nitin Gokhale though has expressed caution over this news, “Just as unexpectedly it had begun, the standoff between India and China is beginning to wind down…given Chinese history of perfidious behaviour, I would be wary of concluding anything either way till details are available”
It must also be noted that China has admitted that most of its troops are not well trained nor do they meet the physical standards to survive the rigours of spending time in such a high altitude area.
There are also reports of China airlifting many of there troops because they suffered various aliments caused by altitude sickness. However, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force have decades of operational experience in this area and this time around the civilian government throw all its political and diplomatic support behind the military.
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