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Chinese troops enter Sikkim sector, destroyed two bunkers

NEW DELHI, January 17, 2018 21:57 IST
Updated: January 17, 2018 21:57 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bonhomie-with-china-back-rawat/article22458076.ece


‘Reduced troops present in Doklam’

Chinese troops continue to remain in the Northern part of Doklam in reduced numbers and have built temporary infrastructure, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday. However, he said the border mechanisms were working well in resolving issues even as reports surfaced of Chinese military build-up near the Doklam area.

“As far as Doklam area is concerned, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops are there in part of the area, in the North part. Although not in the numbers we saw initially. They have carried out some infrastructure development most of it temporary in nature... We are also present there. In case they come, we will face them,” Gen. Rawat said in a conversation at Raisina Dialogue being jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and Observer Research Foundation.

He said that while their troops might have returned and infrastructure remained, it was anybody’s guess whether they would come back or because of winter they could not take their equipment away.

However, Gen. Rawat stressed that the existing border mechanisms were working well in defusing tensions and border personal meetings were being held regularly to sort differences. “Bonhomie has returned which was prior to Doklam. I don’t visualise very serious trouble, but we need to be prepared for anything,” he noted.

India and China had pulled back troops from the disputed site as part of a mutual withdrawal in August last year ending the standoff at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction.

Meanwhile, some reports have mentioned about massive Chinese military build-up including permanent infrastructure and helipads showing maps of the area.

However, official sources said the development was far from the disputed area and well within the Chinese territory. “It is 40-50 km from Doklam plateau. There is nothing we can do for developments within their area,” one official said.

Collective action

Calling for collective action against terrorism, Gen. Rawat warned that mass destruction weapons, including nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, falling in the hands of terrorists “would be disastrous for the humanity.”

“Terrorism is here to stay unless the whole world comes together and works together,” Gen. Rawat said earlier in the day in a panel discussion at Raisina Dialogue.

Stressing on the urgent need for the world community to come to a consensus on the definition of ‘terrorist’, Gen. Rawat said “We need to disrupt terrorists and their sponsors. We need to identify nations who are sponsors.”

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...s-temporary/story-JGgSsdQk3hbSuGUEigdWoI.html

According to two news reports, satellite pictures taken on December 10, 2017 — roughly three-and-a-half months after India and China agreed to end their stand-off — showed new helipads, trenches and construction work at the Doklam plateau.
Updated: Jan 17, 2018 23:59 IST
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HT Correspondent
Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday that the Chinese military has carried out a “mostly temporary” buildup in Doklam, the site of a tense standoff between the two countries last summer, even as media reports cited new satellite images to say that the infrastructure included a “full-fledged” military base.

“They have carried out some infrastructure development, most of it is temporary in nature. But while their troops may have returned and the infrastructure remains, it is anybody’s guess whether they would come back there, or it is because of the winter they could not take their equipment away,” Rawat said during a session in the multi-lateral ‘Raisina Dialogue’.

He added that the Indian army does not visualise serious trouble, “but then one has to be prepared for it.”

NDTV and ThePrint reported that satellite pictures taken on December 10, 2017 — roughly three-and-a-half months after India and China agreed to end their stand-off — showed new helipads, trenches and construction work at the Doklam plateau.

ThePrint described one of the constructions as “concrete” and said that there was at least one complete mechanised regiment deployed. According to NDTV, the build-up was at two locations at the Doklam plateau and one of them was “a massive, full-fledged Chinese military complex”.

Rawat said that Indian and Chinese troops now have a mechanism to effectively address their issues.

“After the Dolam incident...we have started our border personnel meeting. We are meeting regularly, exchanges are taking place, communications between the commanders at the ground level is on and the bonhomie has returned which was prior to the Dolam (incident),” he said.

Last week, Rawat had said that India should shift its focus from the border with Pakistan to the boundary with China, portions of which remain unmarked.

“The time has come for India to shift focus to its northern border. The country is capable of handling China’s assertiveness… China is a powerful country but we are not a weak nation,” the army chief had said at a press conference in New Delhi on Friday.

With PTI inputs

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Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said a few days ago that China had been keeping its troops in North Doklam. "This is disputed territory between Bhutan and China. There has been a reduction in the strength of Chinese troops there. But there is the possibility that they could come back (in force) after the winter. We have to wait-and-watch," he said.

The Print report says satellite images from December 10 show concrete posts, seven helipads, new trenches and several dozen armoured vehicles close to the point where the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops were locked in a 72-day confrontation last year.
TOI had reported on December 11 that 1,600-1,800 Chinese troops had virtually established a permanent presence in the Doklam area, near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet trijunction, with the construction of two helipads, upgraded roads, scores of pre-fabricated huts, shelters and stores to withstand the freezing winter in the high-altitude region




 
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New Delhi, January 18, 2018 22:29 IST
Updated: January 19, 2018 00:46 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/doklam-triggers-war-of-words/article22466480.ece

Latest satellite images in the public domain indicate that the Chinese have set up a “full-fledged military complex” in the Doklam plateau.

“The new images show concrete posts, seven helipads, new trenches and several dozen armoured vehicles close to the point where the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army [PLA] troops were locked in a 72-day confrontation last year. There is at least one complete mechanised regiment and a strong possibility of another mechanised regiment under camouflage nets,” said the Congress’s communications chief, Randeep Surjewala, at a press conference on Thursday.

two major parking areas meant for tank transporters and a two-storey high observation tower were present barely 10 metres from the trenches occupied by the Indian Army.
 
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Lt General Abhay Krishna interview: ‘Need for making quick decisions and strategic intelligence are the lessons from Doklam’
Eastern Command commander discusses standoff, Myanmar and more with Sushant Singh.

Written by Sushant Singh | New Delhi | Updated: January 19, 2018 6:39 am
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Lt General Abhay Krishna

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...lligence-are-the-lessons-from-doklam-5030785/


Lt General Abhay Krishna is the head of Army’s Kolkata-headquartered Eastern Command, which looks after the sensitive Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim’s border with Bhutan and China, and the border with Myanmar. Lt Gen Krishna took over as the Eastern Army Commander in July, when Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in the 73-day long faceoff at Sikkim-Bhutan border and oversaw the ‘disengagement’ between the two sides in August. He spoke about Doklam, China border, Myanmar and Mountain Strike Corps in an interview with SUSHANT SINGH.

Eastern Command has been much in news because of last year’s stand-off at Doklam. How would you describe the situation at Doklam plateau now?

The readiness and reactions of the Indian Army to the Doklam stand-off has given confidence to India’s friendly neighbours to live up to their shared concerns. The situation is now normal with our stand having been clearly articulated, backed up by the readiness of the Army for any security scenario in the forthcoming season.

What are the main lessons learnt from the Doklam stand-off? Do they hold good for other areas on the LAC as well?

The need for strategic intelligence and quick decision making at all levels as a response towards any emerging security scenario demand a high level of inter-agency coordination. These are applicable to other areas of the LAC as well.

The gaps in infrastructure on the China border have been adversely commented upon by parliamentary standing committee even recently. How worried are you about these gaps? Are there any special steps that you are undertaking in this regard?

Infrastructure development with stringent deadlines to support our security concerns on the China border is a major focus area. Realigning our financial commitments to reallocate available finances towards priority areas and structured monitoring mechanisms are some special steps undertaken.

How are you looking at management of border with Myanmar? Is NSCN-K and its camps in that country still a cause of concern?

Border management is being viewed as a joint task with the Myanmar Army in the backdrop of good Indo – Myanmar relations. Intricate linkage of people’s aspirations is also being addressed through close interactions with respective State Governments. NSCN (K) Camps in Myanmar are being closely monitored along with actions by the Myanmar Army through bilateral mechanisms. Concurrently efforts are on to facilitate a dialogue process with the Government of India.

Are you satisfied with the progress of the raising and equipping of the Mountain Strike Corps?

Raising and equipping of the Mountain Strike Corps is being progressed as per predetermined operational priorities and timelines. The raising is part of planned force augmentation in accordance with our security concerns and requirements. All components including Strategic Components, are being addressed in consonance with our requirements.

What are your biggest challenges in the Eastern Command? Any special priorities that you have set for yourself as the army commander?

Eastern Command is an operational and active Command with a responsibility spanning borders with five neighbouring Countries and nine Indian States in Eastern India. Challenges include ensuring territorial sanctity along the Northern Borders while our infrastructure deficit is being concurrently addressed to meet emerging security challenges. Simultaneously retaining a close link with State Governments to provide an effective security umbrella. My priorities are towards Operational Capability and Capacity Development, raising standards of Training and Professionalism, ensuring an effective Security Environment in the North-Eastern States in consonance with the ‘Act East’ Government Policy, and ruthless implementation of financial probity in my Command.
 
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Ministry of Defence
05-February, 2018 16:39 IST
Intrusion by Chinese Army

There is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas between India and China, there are areas along the LAC where both sides have differing perception of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling upto their respective perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur. Government is taking measures to ensure that defence forces are in a state of readiness to meet operational and security challenges.

Government regularly takes up such transgressions along the LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms including Border Personnel Meetings, Flag Meetings, meetings of Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs, as well as through diplomatic channels.

The Government consistently maintains that peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas is an important pre-requisite for the smooth development of bilateral relations.

This information was given by RakshaRajyaMantriDr.SubhashBhamre in a written reply to Shri Darshan Singh Yadav and others in Rajya Sabha today.
 
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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/660222/army-chief-nsa-fs-visited.html
Army Chief, NSA, FS visited Bhutan 2 weeks ago, discussed strategic issues

Press Trust of India, New Delhi, Feb 18 2018, 20:03 IST

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval quietly travelled to Bhutan earlier this month on a rare visit during which they held extensive talks with the top brass of the Bhutanese leadership on strategic issues including the situation in Doklam, authoritative government sources said.

The sources told PTI that the two sides reviewed bilateral security and defence cooperation issues with a focus on China's increasing military posturing and infrastructure development in the key Doklam plateau. The visit took place between February 6 and 7 and "positive" outcomes emerged from the meetings between the key Indian officials and the Bhutanese government, they said.

The visit by Gen. Rawat, Doval and Gokhale was the first such high-level trip from India to Bhutan after the Doklam standoff and it was kept under wraps by the Bhutanese and Indian sides.

The visit came three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay on the sidelines of an investorsâ summit in Guwahati. The sources said the Bhutanese side apprised the Indians about the status of boundary talks between Bhutan and China and emphasised that Thimphu wants peace in the Doklam tri-junction. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed Doklam tri-junction by the Chinese Army.

Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The face-off ended on August 28. China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the dispute in the area. India argues that since it is a tri-junction involving the three countries, it also has a say in the issue, especially in the backdrop of a 2012 agreement between special representatives of the two countries, that have till now held 20 rounds of talks. Bhutan has no diplomatic ties with China. As a close friend and neighbour, Bhutan enjoys diplomatic and military support from India.

The sources said several other key officials of the Army and the Ministry of External Affairs were also a part of the visit. Asked about the foreign secretary's visit, a diplomatic source called it "routine". This was Gen. Rawat's second visit to Bhutan in the last nine months. Gen. Rawat has been calling for adequate focus by India on its nearly 4,000 km-long borders with China. Last month, he had said the time had come for the country to shift its focus from the western to the northern frontier.

Army sources said China has been keeping its troops in north Doklam and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the area. The Indian Army has also been strengthening its troop level in certain key sectors along the Sino-India border besides enhancing border infrastructure. Previously, Rawat had visited Bhutan in April last year while then Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had visited the neighbouring country in October last. In November last, the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, had visited India.
 
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AIRSHOW-CHINA

China unveils its J-20 stealth fighter on an air show in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, November 1, 2016. | Photo Credit: Reuters

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...rder-report/article22806497.ece?homepage=true

The Western Theatre Command is mainly responsible for mountain warfare at the border area with India. The LAC stretches to 3,488-km including the high altitude Tibetan plateau.

China is upgrading air defence of its Western Theatre Command, which looks after the security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), to “confront any threat from India”, an official media report quoted a military expert as saying.

The Chinese military has released photographs of a J-10 fighter jet - a lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft - along with J-11 - a single-seat, twin-engine fighter jet - flying over the high-altitude plateau in western China during the current Chinese New Year and Spring Festival holiday, state-run Global Times reported today.

The jets are attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theatre Command, the website of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said.

China has also recently commissioned its stealth fighter, the J-20, which is first in the region.

The Western Theatre Command is mainly responsible for mountain warfare at the border area with India. The LAC stretches to 3,488-km including the high altitude Tibetan plateau.

India and China have been trying to reset their ties after last year’s 73-day standoff between the two sides at Dokalam in Sikkim section of boundary.

It is significant for China to strengthen control of airspace over the mountainous region, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times.

“Strengthening the 3.5-generation fighter jets or even stationing more advanced fighters in the Western Theatre Command has been urgent for the PLA,” Mr. Song said, adding that such upgrades have been usually first conducted in south and east theatre commands.

Considering that India possesses 3rd-generation fighter jets, China’s stationing of its 3.5-generation jets would be able to deal with any current threat from India, Mr. Song said.

Apparently referring to India’s acquisition of Rafale fighter jets from France, Mr. Song said, “with India importing new jets, China will continue strengthening its fighter jets in the Western Theatre Command.”

Since he took over power in 2013, President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has been pressing the PLA to step up live firing drills to win local wars.
 
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TH26NIRMALA

At an event in Dehradun, Nirmala Sitharaman greets Capt. Priya Sharma Semwal, who joined the Army after the death of her husband. Gen. Bipin Rawat is at left. | Photo Credit: Virender Singh Negi


Our territorial integrity will be maintained: Sitharaman

The government is ready for any eventuality in Doklam, said Union Minister for Defence Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday.

“We are alert and ready for any unforeseen situation in Doklam. We are constantly working on the modernisation of our forces. We will maintain our territorial integrity,” the Minister said.

Her comments also come within days of Indian ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale saying that the Doklam standoff happened because the Chinese military altered the status quo.

Change in strategy

“The Chinese military changed the status quo in the Doklam area and therefore India reacted to it,” he said in Hong Kong. “If the Chinese military are going to build a road, then they must tell us that ‘we are going to build a road’,” he said.

The Defence Minister earlier this month told Rajya Sabha that China had undertaken “construction of some infrastructure, including sentry posts, trenches and helipads” close to the face-off point in Doklam. “Post disengagement from the face-off in 2017, troops of both sides have redeployed themselves away from their respective positions at the face-off site. The strength of both sides has been reduced,” she said.
 
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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/667669/india-china-border-increase-indian.html

India has deployed more troops and significantly increased patrolling in the mountainous terrains of Dibang, Dau-Delai and Lohit valleys along the borders with China in the Tibetan region in Arunachal sector following the Doklam face-off, the most tense military confrontations between the two countries in decades.

Military officials said India is also strengthening its surveillance mechanism to keep an eye on Chinese activities along the borders in the strategically sensitive Tibetan region and has even been regularly deploying choppers to carry out a recce.

They said India has been focusing on dominating the treacherous terrains which include snow-clad mountains at an altitude of over 17,000 feet, and river passes, as part of a strategy to counter China's rising assertiveness along the border in Dibang, Dau-Delai and Lohit valleys.

Post-Doklam, we have increased our activities manifold. We are fully prepared to deal with any challenge, said an army officer posted in Kibithu, the easternmost village on India's border with China's Tibetan region.

The official said the Army has been enhancing its Long Range Patrols (LRPs) where troops in small groups go for patrols for 15-30 days as part of an overall approach to maintain the sanctity of the Line of Actual Control, the de-facto border between India and China.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28.

We have increased our deployment of troops while focusing on all the strategically important areas including a tri-junction among India, China and Myanmar, said the official who wished not to be quoted as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The official said China has been ramping up its infrastructure development along India's border, particularly in the Tibetan region and there was a need for India to enhance its road network for quick movements of troops.

The Army uses a foot suspension bridge to carry its military supplies to its Kibithu post, considered very important from the operational point of view, as the only road connecting the East bank of Lohit river with West bank remains closed due to landslides for the most part of the year.

However, a senior official of the Border Roads Organisation said a number of roads including one to connect the Dibang Valley with Lohit Valley have been finalised which will improve the inter-valley connectivity in Arunachal.

China has been laying new roads and improving its overall infrastructure along the nearly 4,000 km long border with India.

Earlier this month, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said China has undertaken construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel near Doklam.

Sources said China has been keeping its troops in north Doklam and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the disputed area.

In January, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said the time had come for India to shift its focus from borders with Pakistan to the frontier with China, indicating the seriousness of the situation.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/667669/india-china-border-increase-indian.html

India has deployed more troops and significantly increased patrolling in the mountainous terrains of Dibang, Dau-Delai and Lohit valleys along the borders with China in the Tibetan region in Arunachal sector following the Doklam face-off, the most tense military confrontations between the two countries in decades.

Military officials said India is also strengthening its surveillance mechanism to keep an eye on Chinese activities along the borders in the strategically sensitive Tibetan region and has even been regularly deploying choppers to carry out a recce.

They said India has been focusing on dominating the treacherous terrains which include snow-clad mountains at an altitude of over 17,000 feet, and river passes, as part of a strategy to counter China's rising assertiveness along the border in Dibang, Dau-Delai and Lohit valleys.

Post-Doklam, we have increased our activities manifold. We are fully prepared to deal with any challenge, said an army officer posted in Kibithu, the easternmost village on India's border with China's Tibetan region.

The official said the Army has been enhancing its Long Range Patrols (LRPs) where troops in small groups go for patrols for 15-30 days as part of an overall approach to maintain the sanctity of the Line of Actual Control, the de-facto border between India and China.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28.

We have increased our deployment of troops while focusing on all the strategically important areas including a tri-junction among India, China and Myanmar, said the official who wished not to be quoted as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The official said China has been ramping up its infrastructure development along India's border, particularly in the Tibetan region and there was a need for India to enhance its road network for quick movements of troops.

The Army uses a foot suspension bridge to carry its military supplies to its Kibithu post, considered very important from the operational point of view, as the only road connecting the East bank of Lohit river with West bank remains closed due to landslides for the most part of the year.

However, a senior official of the Border Roads Organisation said a number of roads including one to connect the Dibang Valley with Lohit Valley have been finalised which will improve the inter-valley connectivity in Arunachal.

China has been laying new roads and improving its overall infrastructure along the nearly 4,000 km long border with India.

Earlier this month, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said China has undertaken construction of helipads, sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel near Doklam.

Sources said China has been keeping its troops in north Doklam and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the disputed area.

In January, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said the time had come for India to shift its focus from borders with Pakistan to the frontier with China, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
 
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...-with-india/article23660402.ece?homepage=true
'China will unroll the red carpet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Wuhan'.

China on Tuesday said that the upcoming summit between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Wuhan was a trust-building exercise, which would gradually help resolve the border row, and enable the two countries to jointly address major global problems.

“This time the two sides have decided to hold the informal summit between the two leaders. This is because both our countries attach great importance to each other on external strategy and not because of boundary question that still remains unresolved, and we need talk about it during the informal summit,” Chinese vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said in response to a question during a media briefing.

Yet, Mr. Kong spelt out a road-map to settle “specific differences and sensitive issues,” which include the boundary question, following the Wuhan summit. “As mentioned in (my) opening remarks, that at the informal summit, the two leaders will have heart-to-heart discussions on issues of overarching, long term, and strategic importance to bilateral relations.”

He added: “In terms of some specific differences and sensitive issues, the two sides will stay in touch with each other through relevant channels and in the process of deepening mutual trust, they will gradually find a way to settle them.”

Final resolution
Analysts say that China may be gradually shifting its position from “managing” and shelving the border issue, to a fledgling stance of resolving the China-India border dispute. Such a position would align well with Prime Minister Modi’s approach of seeking a final resolution of the boundary dispute.

An official source had earlier told The Hindu that, while a free flowing conversation without a pre-set agenda between the two principals at the Wuhan retreat was expected, Prime Minister Modi, in the past, has expressed particular interest in two broad themes: a final settlement of the India-China boundary, and collaboration between India and China for the fruitful emergence of an “Asian century”.

Mr. Kong acknowledged that the boundary question was “very important”. “Both sides need to work together to create favourable conditions and gradually settle it. And the proper settlement of the boundary question will deepen mutual understanding and consensus…”

In response to question on last year’s Doklam crisis, the senior official said that the standoff in the Sikkim sector “reminds us that both China and India need to make even greater efforts to deepen their mutual trust. The events of last year reflect the somewhat lack of mutual interest between the two countries.”

Mr. Kong stressed that during the informal summit, the two leaders will have “strategic communication on the major changes in the international landscape unseen in more than 100 years.” “They will have in-depth exchange of views on the issues of overarching long-term and strategic importance in the bilateral relations”.

The Chinese official highlighted that the Wuhan summit will be followed by a flurry of official interaction between the two countries, in tune with the broad strategic direction provided by the two leaders. “Both sides also agreed that after the summit the two sides will implement important consensus reached at the meeting maintain high level exchanges, have institutional engagements deepen cooperation, properly handle differences, step up multilateral cooperation and coordination so as to ensure that the China-India relationship will see better and fast development at a new starting point".

Red carpet for Modi

Mr. Kong pointed out that the Chinese side will unroll the red carpet for Mr. Modi in Wuhan. “Some arrangements will go beyond even the expectations of the Indian side," he observed.

"I can’t release (the details) because of security reasons. The two leaders will spend two days in Wuhan. In these two days, they will engage with other on various forums. What I can tell you here is that they will spend a lot of time together one-on-one," he said.
 
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http://indianexpress.com/article/in...kim-borders-may-include-rahul-gandhi-5157640/

Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, will visit Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh next month to take stock of the ground situation on the Sino-Indian border, sources said Monday. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of the committee, may also join the visit, the sources said.

The committee resolved to examine the whole gamut of India-China relations, including Doklam, the border situation and cooperation in international organisations last year. This comes days after Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi explain resumed road-construction by the Chinese near the Doklam plateau. The panel has since been briefed on these issues by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and other senior officials.

Asked about the composition of the team which would visit the two border states, the sources said all members of the committee were welcome to join, but one had to bear in mind the fact that no meeting of the panel had drawn more than 23 participants.

The sources said they expect a good turnout given the fact that the committee was scheduled to visit places like Tawang. The committee was keen on visiting points where Chinese incursions had taken place. Efforts were on to arrange a helicopter for an aerial view. The MPs may also interact with defence personnel deployed there.

In February, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan cancelled a meeting of the committee in which it was scheduled to examine witnesses that included former Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor, former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and former Ambassador G Parthasarathy on the Doklam military build-up by China. Lok Sabha sources claimed that the cancellation followed a request to this effect from several members. Tharoor, on the other hand, described the Speaker’s action as “unprecedented”.
 
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Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitious visit in 2014 was sullied by the military face-off in Chumar in Ladakh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s journey to China in 2015 was trailed two years later by a near-war situation in Doklam.
 
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NEW DELHI, August 15, 2018 21:58 IST
Updated: August 15, 2018 21:58 IST
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-china-armies-meet-in-ladakh/article24698228.ece



Stand-off at Demchok is yet to end

Amid continuing transgression by China at Demchok in eastern Ladakh, the Armies of India and China held a ceremonial Border Personal Meeting to mark India’s Independence Day.

The meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo and Daulat Beg Oldie. The Indian delegations were led by Brigadier V.K. Purohit and Colonel Anil Kumar Sharma, and the Chinese delegations by Senior Colonel Wang Jun Xian and Lieutenant Colonel Li Ming Ju.

However, not far from the venues, a stand-off has been going on in Demchok since early July when Chinese troops intruded 300 metres into Indian territory and pitched tents. Official sources said a group of Chinese soldiers entered the area, in the garb of nomads, and pitched five tents. However, four tents were removed within days, after India opened discussions between border commanders under the existing mechanisms.

One tent is still there, and the discussions are continuing, an official source said. The incident comes a year after the 73-days stand-off at the Doklam trijunction.

Transgressions are common along the unsettled Line of Actual Control.

The two countries have instituted several mechanisms to resolve such issues.

However, according to government figures, the number of transgressions by the People’s Liberation Army into Indian territory has gone up from 272 in 2016 to 426 in 2017.
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...am-chamling/article24739053.ece?homepage=true
Gangtok, August 20, 2018 21:58 IST
Updated: August 20, 2018 21:58 IST
Observing that the people of Sikkim are “living in fear” because of the stand-off in Doklam between India and China, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Monday said the Centre had kept the border State in the dark on the issue.

“Nobody has consulted us, neither the Centre nor the Army has told us anything about the situation. Whatever we get to know about Doklam is from newspaper reports,” Mr. Chamling told a group of journalists from the Kolkata Press Club.

“Here in Sikkim, we live with the Doklam issue. There is a fear psychosis among the people. We are afraid of the situation,” Mr. Chamling said.

He said the people feared a war with China, and referred to Kupup, the last inhabited village in Sikkim, about 30 km from Doklam.

“We want good relations between India and China. The State government and the people of Sikkim have shown their love for the country and have worked for the interest of India,” he said. On a solution to the issue, he said the Centre knew best.

Mr. Chamling said he had tried to shield the State from external disturbances, whether from Maoism in Nepal or the Gorkhaland agitation in Darjeeling. He said he wanted peace in Darjeeling, and supported the stand of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“We want to join Mamata Banerjee and contribute to the prosperity of Darjeeling,”. In 2017, the West Bengal government had accused Sikkim of giving shelter to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung.
 
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