2 years after Galwan clash, where India-China relations stand today

TWO YEARS after the Galwan clash in the Ladakh heights, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, and which plunged India-China relationsto their lowest in decades, the two sides are normalising relations in many respects.

Relations now

• India's trade with China in the calendar year 2021 was $ 125 billion, higher than in the previous year, and higher than pre-pandemic, pre-Ladakh standoff levels.
• Imports from China reached $97.5 billion, while exports crossed $20 billion for the first time.
• Tencent, the Chinese tech-entertainment giant, recently bought a stake in Flipkart, even while several apps linked to it such as Tik Tok remain banned in India.
• While political contact is yet to resume fully, there have been significant interactions.
• The Chinese Foreign Minister visited Delhi in March.
• National Security Adviser participated in meetings of the multilateral Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, and attended a BRICS security officials meeting hosted by his Chinese counterpart.
• The Prime Minister is expected to attend the BRICS summit being hosted by China, in a virtual format.
• Beijing also lifted a two-year Covid ban on visas to Indian professionals and their families.
  • It has also indicated it is processing visas of Indian students who had returned home on account of the pandemic.

Military stand-off

• 15 rounds of talks between India and Chinese senior army commanders in eastem Ladakh for resolution of friction points indicate otherwise.
• The negotiations have led to withdrawal of troops by both sides from Galwan, Pangong Lake and Gogra/ Patrolling Point 17A. While this is not yet a return to status quo ante in these areas.
• There are three other areas - Depsang plains, Hot Springs and Demchock-where Chinese troops continue to prevent Indian soldiers from entering areas they were previously patrolling.
• Although the withdrawal of troops or disengagement, even partially, was supposed to be a prelude to de-escalation along the LAC, this has not happened either.
• Instead, China's build-up of military infrastructure on its side of the LAC is going on apace.
• The Commanding General of the US Army in the Pacific region, said during a recent visit to Delhi that the build-up was "alarming and while talks were useful," the way they are acting and behaving is concerning, and should be concerning to everyone, and I think it is".
• The build-up in Ladakh indudes a 11-m-wide bridge spanning the narrowest part of Pangong Lake at Khurnak Fort in territory that falls on the Chinese side of the LAC but is claimed by India.
• This bridge will facilitate quick deployment of troops from the Rudog base to forward areas as well as faster tactical deployment of troops within the theatre" to avoid being upstaged by India.
• The Chinese could not deploy additional troops quickly enough to repulse the Indian forces because the only route available was around the lake.

Recalling Galwan

• The Chinese People's Liberation Army had pitched tents and an observation post on India's side of the LAC.
• After a general agreement on disengaging in the Galwan sector earlier in June, the Chinese had agreed to withdraw. But on the night of June 15, a disagreement over the continued presence of the Chinese led to the bloodiest clash between India and China since 1975.
• Ten Indian soldiers including two Majors, two Captains and six jawans were detained by the Chinese for nearly three days before being handed back after several rounds of negotiations.
• According to unconfirmed reports, the Chinese may have lost more men than India, but so far, the PLA has acknowledged that four of its soldiers were killed.

Prelims Takeaway

• Location based question- Passes, lakes, rivers and mountains