Ladakh Standoff: Chinese Defence Minister Seeks Meeting With Rajnath Singh Amid Border Tensions

According to reports, the Chinese side conveyed to the Indian mission its keenness to have a meeting between the two Defence Ministers.

Rajnath Singh during a delegation-level meeting with Russian Defence Minister General Sergei Shoigu in Moscow. (Image: PTI)

Moscow: As the situation in eastern Ladakh remains to be tensed due to the alleged transgression by People's Liberation Army (PLA) along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghi is understood to have sought a meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on the sidelines of a key Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meet in Moscow. Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a tense border row in eastern Ladakh for nearly four months now. Singh and Wei are currently in Moscow to attend a meeting of SCO Defence Ministers which is scheduled to take place later in the day today. According to reports, the Chinese side conveyed to the Indian mission its keenness to have a meeting between the two Defence Ministers. Singh, who landed in Moscow on Wednesday, held a delegation-level meeting with Russian Defence Minister General Sergei Shoygu on Thursday. The Indian minister pressed for expediting supply of a number of weapons systems, ammunition and spares to India by Russia under contracts which were concluded earlier. Later taking to Twitter, Singh termed his one-hour meeting with Shoigu at the Russian Ministry of Defence as excellent. The meeting was marked by the traditional warmth and friendship, characteristic of the special and privileged partnership between India and Russia in which military technical cooperation and military-to-military cooperation constitute an important pillar, according to a statement by the defence ministry. It is Rajnath Singh's second visit to Moscow since June. He had represented India at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on June 24 that commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. As per reports, even External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Moscow for the SCO foreign ministers' meet on September 10. The SCO comprises eight member states -- India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Defence ministers of these nations will meet to discuss regional security challenges along with terrorism and other key issues. Tension escalated in the Pangong lake area after China unsuccessfully attempted to occupy certain areas in the southern bank of Pangong lake following which India rushed in additional troops and weapons to the sensitive region. On Monday, the Indian Army said the Chinese military carried out "provocative military movements" to "unilaterally" change the status quo on the southern bank of Pangong lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30 but the attempt was thwarted by the Indian troops.