16th round of talks between military commanders ended without any agreement
16th round of talks between military commanders ended without any agreement
China on Tuesday defended its move Military activity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) Border talks remain at a standstill, even as India’s concerns over Chinese planes flying close to disputed areas go as “normal”.
Responding to questions about China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) air exercises, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, “I want to emphasize that China will always follow the relevant agreements signed between China and India. Accordingly, carry out normal activities in the border areas. In the border areas in late June and early July.
According to reports, after the Chinese planes flew close to the disputed areas along the LAC, India in response fired the aircraft and took up the matter with the Chinese side as well.
Mr Zhao did not comment on the air exercise, but said in Sunday’s talks the two sides “agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the western sector” and “keep in close contact and work through military and diplomatic channels and work”. Maintain dialogue through the medium of communication to find a mutually acceptable solution to the remaining issues at the earliest.
‘Reluctant to discuss’
The 16th round of talks between military commanders ended at Patrolling Point 15 in Hot Springs with no success or agreement. China has also been reluctant to discuss the remaining two other disputes in Demchok and Depsang, while India has made its stand clear of complete disengagement from all friction zones.
In a reflection of Beijing’s priorities, on Monday, the official PLA daily did not mention talks, but published a front-page report on air force exercises being carried out by the Western Theater Command, which is responsible for bordering India. High altitude border area. The report said that its aim was to increase combat capability.
Separately, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday that the PLA had with India tested its new rocket launch system with precision strike capability, the PCL 191 system, in high altitude areas. range.
artillery brigade
According to the official PLA daily, “the system was being used by an artillery brigade in the Xinjiang Military District of Western Theater Command in April last year.” “The brigade was deployed in an area 5,200 meters (17,000 ft) above sea level in the Himalayas, near the border with India,” it said.
It was intended to show that “the PCL191 Brigade could be deployed anywhere in the country, from the coast to the Himalayas, and face challenges such as a border dispute with India, or even a Taiwan contingency”. Military commentator Song Zhongping told the Post.