China Refuses To Move Back; PLA Still Has 40K Troops Present On Ladakh Front: Reports

The nuclear-powered Asian neighbours are entangled in a bitter border standoff at multiple locations along the Line of Actual Control since May 5 this year.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: Despite rounds of military and diplomatic talks between the two countries to douse off the ongoing border dispute, China has indicated its unwillingness to de-escalate the situation. According to  the reports, People's Liberation Army (PLA) has refused to move back. News agency ANI quoted its sources as saying that China's PLA is not honouring the commitment for disengagement at the friction points in Eastern Ladakh. Despite multiple rounds of talks at the government and Army level and intervention at the senior level officials, Chinese troops have indicated their disagreement to the de-escalation terms as heavy military force continues to be deployed at the Eastern Ladakh front. "The Chinese have not shown any signs of de-escalation as they continue to maintain their heavy troop deployment of almost 40,000 troops supported by heavy weaponry like air defence systems, armoured personnel carriers and long-range artillery in front and depth areas," sources said, as quoted by ANI report. The report further mentioned that the Chinese side has appeared to be quite reluctant in moving out of the Finger 5 area and retreat back to their permanent location. Sources have claimed that China want to create an observation post in those Finger areas. The nuclear-powered Asian neighbours are entangled in a bitter border standoff at multiple locations along the Line of Actual Control since May 5 this year. In the last meeting held on July 15-16, the two sides achieved progress in further disengagement between border troops and easing situation at the western sector of China-India boundary. It was the fourth round of commander-level talks between India and China was held to take forward the disengagement process meant for expeditious withdrawal of troops from all the standoff points at the LAC which is “necessary for maintaining peace and tranquillity”.