No border meet as Chinese army doesn’t respond

NEW DELHI: India’s and China’s military representatives will not hold Border Personnel Meetings (BPMs) this Independence Day as the People’s Liberation Army didn’t respond to the invitation of their Indian counterparts. India has been looking forward to the meetings at five border points between the two armies following the Dokalam standoff.

BPMs are ceremonial meetings held on Independence Day, Republic Day and PLA Day (August 1) every year at Daulat Beg Oldie and Chushul in Ladakh, Bumla and Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh and Nathu La in Sikkim. The two armies engage in discussions, sports and group activities during such meetings.

After the June standoff at the trijunction with Bhutan, BPMs were to be hosted by PLA on August 1, but it never invited its counterparts. Later, the Indian Army sent invites to PLA for the August 15 BPMs. The Chinese attendance would have indicated improvement in ties but PLA didn’t respond. The meetings will not be held, confirmed Army insiders, though it did not officially respond.


“Invite was sent to PLA a few days ago, but they didn’t respond. So orders were given to stand down and no BPMs will be held at any of the five locations tomorrow,” an officer said. It takes at least a week for the Army to make arrangements for BPMs, including movement of commanders and officers from the concerned Corps, Division and Brigade headquarters.