The Chinese army continues to exert pressure on the disputed border with India, as last week Chinese troops prevented Indian troops from patrolling in Indian territory, according to New Delhi Television (NDTV).
This incident is one of a series to have occurred in the Leh District in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost part of India, and follows upon other recent incursions by China in the Himalayan region.
Last week’s patrol left the Trade Junction area intending to travel to two Indian Army posts 14 kilometeres (8.6 miles) away, along the line of actual control that separates the territories of India and the People’s Republic of China.
Before the Indian patrol could reach its destination, it was intercepted by People’s Liberation Army troops in light and heavy vehicles, according to NDTV.
The PLA troops in an approach said to be aggressive showed a banner saying that this was Chinese territory and prevented the Indian troops from advancing.
Since April this year, the Indian army has tried to patrol to these forward bases 21 times but could actually do so only twice, according to a report in India Today.
According to India Today, the PLA keeps watch on the movement of the Indian troops through a recently erected observation post and intercepts the Indian patrols midway and sends them back. The matter will reportedly be taken up during the next Border Personnel Meeting between the two countries in the region.
In April, there was a 21-day standoff between the PLA and the Indian Army in this same region inside Indian territory, as the PLA built structures on Indian land.
The 16th round of border talks between India and the People’s Republic of China convened on June 28 in Beijing, with rhetoric about breaking new ground in the long-standing border disputes.
Meanwhile, the locals are fearful of the Chinese incursions, according to the Indian news channel, Headlines Today. Rigxing, the nominated village head of Damchuk, told the channel that China has constructed roads in the area. “We feel scared of Chinese troops here. We don’t go on that side anymore,” he said.
Recently India’s Cabinet Committee on Security approved a proposal to raise a 45,000 strong Mountain Strike Corps to counter China’s military might.
In addition to the incursions into Jammu and Kashmir, there have also been reported recent incursions by the PLA into the territories of the Himalayan countries Nepal and Bhutan.
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