This Article is From Sep 30, 2014

Border Face-Off with China in Ladakh Over, Status Quo Restored

Border Face-Off with China in Ladakh Over, Status Quo Restored

The site of a face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh.

New Delhi: China and India have both withdrawn their soldiers from Ladakh's Chumur, restoring the status quo as on September 1. The civilian face-off at Demchok has also been resolved.

A flag meeting was held today between both sides at Spanggur Gap, formally ending the two-week face-off that started on September 11. (Read: On President Xi Jinping's Day One in India, Over 1,000 Chinese Troops Intrude 4-5 Km Inside Ladakh)

A ceremonial flag meet is to be held tomorrow between two armies at the same spot to commemorate the foundation of People's Republic of China.

Over 1000 soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and 1,500 Indian army personnel had been eyeball-to-eyeball in Chumur since September 11, which had cast a shadow on Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day India visit that started on September 17.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the matter twice with Mr Xi, but not much changed on the ground. (Read: India Cancels Media Dialogue With China After Border Stand-Off)

On September 26, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the two nations have resolved the matter during her meeting with the Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. (Read: Border Stand-Off With China Resolved: Sushma Swaraj)

Today, a communique from the External Affairs Ministry said, "as per the understanding reached between India and China", a disengagement and redeployment of border troops has been carried out "to restore the status quo ante as on September 1, 2014".

Restoration of the "status quo as on September 1" means no construction would be allowed in the area.

India had objected to China constructing a road in the disputed area - from Chebzi to Point 30R. China, on its part, had objected to Indians building an irrigation canal at Demchock, 80 km away. (Read: With Canal And Hut, India Stands Up to China on Disputed Frontier)

It is also believed that India, too, has agreed not to construct observation post and bunkers in the area and remove concrete strictures that could have military use.
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