Galwan valley Archives - Page 2 of 2

26Jun

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Asia

Satellite images show new Chinese structures near site of border clash with India

Fresh satellite pictures have revealed that China have added new structures near the site of a deadly border clash with India in the western Himalayas, heightening concerns about further flare-ups between the nuclear-armed neighbours.Indian and Chinese military commanders agreed on June 22 to step back from a weeks-old standoff at several locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) following the June 15 clash in the Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.However, the satellite images showing new construction activity in the week following the brutal hand-to-hand combat underline the risk the accord could still fall apart because of overlapping claims in the arid territory.The pictures shot on June 22 by US-based space technology firm Maxar Technologies show what appear ...

Xi plays tough, but can China afford to make an enemy of India?

24Jun

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Asia

Xi plays tough, but can China afford to make an enemy of India?

In the high-altitude Himalayan no man’s land claimed by India and China, both countries’ forces have agreed not to carry guns, to diminish the chance of the long-running territorial dispute flaring into open war.So the People’s Liberation Army had dammed up mountain streams, which they unblocked as the Indian troops approached. The rush of water knocked many off their feet, and then the Chinese soldiers swept down, brandishing sticks encrusted with nails.The units fought hand to hand for hours; several Indians tumbled down the mountain to their death. And when the battle was over, at least 20 Indian soldiers were dead, dozens more injured and several taken captive. China had losses too, although it has not revealed figures.Before last week’s battle, no soldier from either side had died in

24Jun

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Opinion

Savage horror of India-China border clash serves as a warning to avoid the unthinkable

What really happened on the night of June 15 in the disputed Aksai Chin-Ladakh region in the western Himalayas?So far, all we know about the worst bloodletting between India and China in 60 years of border tensions is what Indian media reports. They are mostly unverified, nationalistic, one-sided accounts citing anonymous sources, but will have to suffice in the absence of more official details about what went down in one of the most desolate places on the planet.The showdown at 14,000 feet came after military commanders on the ground had agreed that both sides would pull their troops away to create a buffer zone above the confluence of the Galwan and Shyok rivers.All hell broke loose when an Indian colonel took a group of soldiers back to the scene to ensure the People’s Liberation Army w

Fragilities in the People’s Liberation Army

24Jun

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Asia

Fragilities in the People’s Liberation Army

The Chinese leadership under the Communist Party of China (CPC) have mastered the art of deception. Under the supervision of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the display of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) marching columns, an array of armored vehicles followed by missile units, overhead waves of helicopters and planes above Tiananmen Square in Beijing have created the illusion of a creeping emergence of an invincible military force that is capable of dominating and decimating any battle.But the overriding focus on weaponry hides a major fragility of the PLA- a new generation of troops, protected at home on account of the country's disastrous one-child policy- who have never been at war.In 1979, the PLA, which had once taken over the forces of legendary American General, Douglas McCarther, ...

23Jun

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Asia

Sino-Indian flare-up at Galwan dilutes bilateral ties: Report

The clash between Chinese and Indian Army personnel at the Galwan area along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on June 15 have impacted the future trajectory of India-China relationship and diluted the arduously worked out rules of engagement along the border, a European think tank has said."The Chinese attack has led to China's most serious security situation with India in recent years, and flared emotions have meant that the potential for rapid escalation is rife," European Foundation for South Asian Studies said in a report published on Friday.The think tank said that the Chinese attack marks the "21st century turning point for India and China", and that the two countries face a future characterized by deepened distrust and potential fresh conflict."The attack on Indian troops comes on t...

Government will not allow any unilateral change of LAC, reiterates Centre

23Jun

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Asia

Government will not allow any unilateral change of LAC, reiterates Centre

The Indian government has said that attempts are being made in to give mischievous interpretation to remarks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the all-party meeting, countering Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim that India "surrendered to the Chinese aggression".Prime Minister Modi had, after an all-party meeting on Friday about the LAC row with China, said that Chinese troops did not intrude into the Indian Territory.The Central government, in a statement, said that the Prime Minister was clear that India would respond firmly to any attempts to transgress the Line of Actual Control (LAC).In fact, he specifically said that in contrast to the past neglect of such challenges, Indian forces now decisively counter any violations of LAC.The all-party meeting was also informed that this time,...

China feels threatened by India’s infra building in Ladakh, says Gilgit Baltistan activist

21Jun

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Asia

China feels threatened by India’s infra building in Ladakh, says Gilgit Baltistan activist

Political activist Senge H Sering from Gilgit Baltistan has condemned Chinese aggression in Ladakh which recently led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers saying Beijing is feeling threatened by India's infrastructure projects in the Union Territory.Sering, the director of Institute of Gilgit Baltistan Studies said, "India is improving its infrastructure and making its access to Karakoram Pass much easier. That means India will be able to access G219 (China National Highway 219) from Galwan Valley, because it is very close to the watershed of the Galwan River. Then you will be able to cut Tibet from Xinjiang, in case India tries to move forward towards East and North. And you will also be able to cut the Eastern route, the second route of CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor)."His remarks ...

China displays ‘rogue’ attitude in neighborhood, creates wedge between US, Europe: Pompeo

21Jun

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

World

China displays ‘rogue’ attitude in neighborhood, creates wedge between US, Europe: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday criticized the Chinese government for not only displaying its "rogue" attitude in its neighborhood, particularly the recent escalation of border tension with India, but also for "pushing disinformation and malicious cyber campaigns so as to drive a wedge between the US and Europe.".“I think all across the world it's becoming more apparent each and every day. Chinese Communist Party decreed an end to freedom in Hong Kong, violating UN-registered treaty and rights of its citizens-one of many int'l treaties that the Chinese Communist Party has violated,” Pompeo said during an online conference on democracy held in Copenhagen, Denmark.Earlier this week, Pompeo met a Senior Chinese official in Hawaii where he held closed door talks when relations betw

Indian Foreign Minister talks tough with his Chinese counterpart on Galwan skirmish

20Jun

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Asia

Indian Foreign Minister talks tough with his Chinese counterpart on Galwan skirmish

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday conveyed a clear message to Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi that what happened in Galwan was a "pre-mediated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties."This was the first time Jaishankar spoke to Wang since the stand-off began in early May and marked the highest political contact to address the tensions after talks between military commanders failed to break the impasse.In a strong tone, Dr Jaishankar's told Wang Yi that this "unprecedented development will have a serious impact on the bilateral relationship." The Indian Foreign Minister further told his counterpart "the need of the hour was for the Chinese side to reassess its actions and take corrective steps."India wants resto...