According to latest inputs from the Indian intelligence, about 1,000 square kilometres of area in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is now under Chinese control, reported The Hindu.
On 29-30 August, Indian army accused China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers of making ‘provocative military movements’ on the southern bank of Pangong Tso, across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in an attempt to alter the status quo, the Indian army said in a statement early Monday.
By evening, a senior unidentified government official informed The Hindu about a systematic mobilisation by the Chinese troops along the LAC from the ‘Depsang Plains to Chushul’ region.
Although China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been gathering troops and building military presence along the LAC since April-May, on June 15/16th China- India had a violent clash at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers.
29-30 August standoff comes amid several rounds of diplomatic and military level talks after the Galwan Valley clash. The talks as of now have lead to partial disagreements and, as per agreements, Indian troops moving back from their existing positions leading to creation buffer zones at all the disputed sites.
The distance between Finger 4 to 8 near Pangong Tso (lake) till May was patrolled both by India and China, even though India considers it to form part of its perception of the LAC.
However now, Chinese forces are occupying a considerable area from Finger 4 to 8 near Pangong Tso (lake), according to officials.
The Indian intelligence officials revealed that in Depsang Plains, India from patrolling point 10-13, the scale of Chinese control of India’s perception of the LAC stood at about 900 sq.km.
The officials stated that nearly 20 sq. km in Galwan Valley and 12 sq. km in Hot Springs area is said to be under Chinese occupation.
In Pangong Tso, the area under Chinese control is 65 sq. km, whereas in Chushul it is 20 sq. km, the officials reported.
India and China have both accused each other of violating their territorial sovereignty.