Ahead of high-level talks with India, China appoints new Commander for troops guarding LAC

A day ahead of Corps Commander-level Indo-China talks, China appointed Lieutenant General Xu Qiling as new commander for its Western atre Command Ground Force. Western atre Command is responsible for guarding  3488 km long Line of Actual Control with India. As per sources, both nations are expected to table specific proposals to end standoff.

Sources add that Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, Commander of 14 Corps shall hold talks with Major General Liu Lin, who is commander of South Xinjiang Military Region of China's People's Liberation Army. A breakthrough has t been achieved despite nearly 10 rounds of talks between two sides. aforesaid meeting will take place at Moldo, a designated Border meeting point. 

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India-China standoff

Chinese military helicopters were spotted close to border between India and China in eastern Ladakh after a clash between soldiers from both sides took place on two occasions. reafter, a fleet of Su-30 fighters of Indian Air Force carried out sorties in area. According to reports, Indian and Chinese Army personnel clashed along rrn bank of Pangong Lake in Ladakh on May 5. Four days later, a face-off between two sides was witnessed near Naku La Pass in Sikkim. 

On May 28,  Ministry of External Affairs clarified that Indian soldiers have taken a responsible approach and are following due protocols. It maintained that Centre remains firm on maintaining sovereignty and national security. Speaking with Republic TV, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Centre would t let India's self-respect come down. He added that diplomatic talks with China were going on. 

MoS PMO slams Congress

Earlier in day, MoS PMO Dr.Jitendra Singh took a swipe at Congress party for raising questions about Centre's handling of current standoff with China at LAC. Singh contended that dispute with China was a result of mistakes committed by Rahul Gandhi's great-grandfar Jawaharlal Nehru. He indicated that Nehru's China policy had led to  1962 war. According to MoS PMO, India was still paying a price because of this. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had questioned Centre's silence on standoff at LAC and raised concerns about Chinese incursion into Indian territory. 

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