PM Modi’s China visit: Indian & Chinese forces trying hard to maintain peace along LAC border

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi is determined to ensure his China’s visit doesn’t get overshadowed by any kind of shenanigans on the border, which is why there have been a flurry of meetings on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh between the two militaries.

Indian and Chinese commanders want to make sure that peace and tranquility prevail along the LAC to avoid any incident that may cast a shadow on the trip, which the government sees as being among the most significant of the overseas visits that Modi has embarked upon in his first year in office.

More so as Xi Jingping’s trip to India last year was marred by Chinese army’s incursions into India territory. Officials confirmed that both armies have had four brigadier-level border meetings at the Chushul meeting point in two weeks. Discussions centered around the need to maintain peace along the 3,488-km border, particularly in view of the PM’s visit. The meetings took place on April 14, 20, 24 and May 1.

“India’s continuing round of talks through the Special Representative mechanism with China reiterates that the space to hold diplomatic dialogue, on all thorny issues, shall remain the central element of broader ties that define the bilateral Sino-Indian relationship,” said Monika Chansoria, senior fellow and head of the China programme at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies.