Chinese army intrudes again in Ladakh, pushed back after 3-hour stand-off

NEW DELHI: Barely two months after a fortnight long stand-off between Chinese and Indian forces was resolved in Ladakh, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) made another incursion on Tuesday leading to a standoff for over three hours. While the last standoff (in September) took place in Chumur-Dhemchok area, the latest one has been reported from near Chushul which is reeling under -30 degree celsius temperature.

Home ministry sources said the incursion began in much the same way as the September standoff with civilians from both sides quarreling over rights to the differently-perceived 40-odd sq km spread. As the quarrel escalated, sources said, Chinese PLA entered Indian territory to support its civilians.

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At this, Indian forces rushed to the spot asked Chinese forces to retreat to their territory and managed to push them back after about three hours.

"This was not the same as the September standoff when matters had really escalated. But given that Chinese continue to come in despite unfavourable weather shows their intent to continue to needle us. Earlier incursions were never heard of in winters. For the past couple of years, they have become common. Our forces, however, are prepared and have been responding with equal force," said a home ministry official.

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The incident is both a reflection of increasing Chinese aggression on the border and strengthening Indian assertion in the area. Government sources say the forces have been asked to be more proactive and assertive vis-a-vis China on the border, leading to daily patrolling along certain areas on the border and greater interception of Chinese soldiers when they move towards Indian side.



Forces used to earlier go to certain areas in Ladakh only once a week or on alternate days. This has now become a daily affair. "Also PLA soldiers used to earlier venture deep into Indian territory before being sent back. They are now being intercepted right at the border," said an official.

Both Indian and Chinese armies for long have been patrolling aggressively along the un-delineated 4,057-km long LAC, stretching from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, to strengthen their claims on disputed areas. Whenever troop face-offs occur, they are usually defused soon after.

READ ALSO: In a first, Chinese military acknowledges 2013 Ladakh incursion

But there was an "unusual'' 21-day face-off in April-May last year after PLA troops intruded 19 km into Depsang valley in DBO sector of eastern Ladakh, which had led India to push for "greater predictability and stability'' in tackling such incidents through the new border defence cooperation agreement (BDCA).

But despite the BDCA coming into force, there was again a prolonged military standoff, with around 1,000 soldiers from each side in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation at Chumar and Demchok for over a fortnight this September. It had taken four flag meetings for both sides to agree to "restore the status quo ante as it existed on September 1".