China and India move more troops to disputed border in Ladakh region as tensions build

About 5,000 soldiers, as well as additional vehicles and arms, have been deployed by both countries, continuing the build-up of forces

Diplomats have begun talks after negotiations between Indian and Chinese military officials on May 22-23 brought no results

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A Chinese soldier and an Indian soldier work on a wire fence near their shared border. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:17pm, 27 May 2020Updated: 5:42pm, 28 May 2020

India has moved additional troops along its northern border as it prepares for an extended conflict with neighbour China, after several rounds of talks failed to ease tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals.

China has already placed about 5,000 soldiers and armoured vehicles within its side of the disputed border in the Ladakh region, an Indian government official said, asking not to be identified citing rules. India is adding a similar number of troops as well as artillery guns along the border to fend off the continuing incursions by Chinese army, the official said.

The stand-off began on May 5, when troops clashed on the banks of Pangong Tso – a glacial lake at 14,000 feet in the Tibetan plateau – leaving scores of soldiers on both sides injured. Since then there has been a steady build-up of troops amid continuing face-offs.

Diplomats in New Delhi and Beijing have begun talks after negotiations between Indian and Chinese military officials on May 22-23 brought no results, the official said. China’s move to step up incursions at two different locations along the 3,488km undemarcated border is a deviation from its earlier attempts to gain territory after the two nations fought a war in 1962, according to the officials.

Beijing was committed to safeguarding peace and stability in the border areas, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a regular briefing to the media on Wednesday, noting the two countries had good border-related mechanisms and communications channels.

“We have been following the important consensus reached by the two leaders and strictly observing the agreements between the two countries,” Zhao said. “We are capable of resolving these related issues properly through dialogue and consultation.”

Sun Weidong, China’s ambassador to India, on Wednesday remained hopeful of a diplomatic resolution and highlighted the countries’ joint effort to fight coronavirus.

“China and India are fighting together against Covid-19, and we have an important task to consolidate relations,” he said, according to reports in Indian media. “Our youth should realise the relation between China and India, the two countries are opportunities for each other and pose no threat.