India-China standoff: Government says situation sensitive but not dangerous

Indian government sources have said that the ongoing India China standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is "sensitive but not dangerous".

The development comes even as a number of high-level meetings took place in Delhi on the Chinese build up on its side of the LAC. 

WION has also learnt that both sides are in communication to resolve the current situation. Sources said,"both sides are in communication at diplomatic and local level."

While both Delhi and Bejing are tight-lipped, it is only after the Global times, the Chinese government mouthpiece first officially confirmed that "Chinese border defence troops have enhanced control measures in the Galwan valley region". 

While Global Times claims built in response to India building a structure, India has said the Chinese had hindered Indian patrols in the area.

The ministry of external affairs in a statement said, "All Indian activities are entirely on the Indian side of the LAC. In fact, it is the Chinese side that has recently undertaken activity hindering India's normal patrolling patterns. The Indian side has always taken a very responsible approach towards border management."

Explaining that "Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas and abide by it scrupulously", MEA said, "Indian side has always taken a very responsible approach towards border management" and "at the same time, we are deeply committed to ensuring India's sovereignty and security."

While the Ladakh face-off has caught the attention, the recent face of in Naku la, Sikkim and other places across of the LAC has been a worrisome development. After the 73-day Doklam crisis in 2017, both countries established a mechanism of informal summits alternating between the two countries to resolve any problems that may arise. In the first informal summit in Wuhan in 2018, both sides gave "guidance" to forces and "committed" to work for the "common objective of maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas".

It was reiterated again in the Mamallapuram informal summit that took last year.