New Delhi: India-China Border Situation ‘Stable’ But ‘Sensitive,’ Says Army Chief Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated on Tuesday that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China is “stable” but not “normal,” expressing India’s desire to restore the pre-April 2020 status along the border.
peaking at the ‘Chanakya Dialogue’ seminar organized by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, General Dwivedi stated that China is a significant security challenge and raised several unresolved issues, including troop deployments, buffer zones, and the resumption of patrolling along the LAC.
“Until the pre-April 2020 situation is restored, the scenario will remain sensitive, and we are fully operationally prepared for any contingencies,” he said, noting that “trust between India and China becomes the biggest casualty.”
When asked about recent Chinese diplomatic statements indicating a possible convergence on issues, he acknowledged that while signaling from the diplomatic side offers options, actual implementation depends on military commanders from both countries.
General Dwivedi specifically mentioned ongoing disputes in Depsang and Demchok, stating, “Whatever one can imagine is on the table for discussion along the northern front, including Depsang and Demchok.”
Regarding China’s infrastructure developments, such as the construction of Model villages along the border, he remarked that these initiatives involve “artificial immigration and artificial settlements,” as there is no native Chinese or Tibetan population close to the LAC.
He drew parallels to the South China Sea, where civilian fishermen were followed by military presence, suggesting that the construction of Model villages may have larger strategic implications. “What may appear simple could have a grand design behind it,” he said.
Fresh Faceoff Timeline:
Beginning on May 5, 2020, Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a series of aggressive face-offs and skirmishes along the Sino-Indian border, notably near the Pangong Lake in Ladakh and the Tibet Autonomous Region, as well as along the Sikkim border. Clashes also erupted in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In late May, tensions escalated when Chinese forces objected to Indian road construction in the Galwan River valley.
Reports from June 15-16 indicated that melee fighting led to casualties on both sides. While there were claims of soldiers being taken captive temporarily, official sources from both nations denied these reports.
On September 7, shots were fired along the LAC for the first time in 45 years, with both countries blaming each other. Earlier, on August 30, Indian troops reportedly fired warning shots at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Disengagement efforts commenced in June and July, with partial withdrawals from Galwan, Hot Springs, and Gogra, while complete disengagement from both banks of Pangong Lake was achieved in February 2021. After Gogra’s disengagement in August 2021, Indian analysts noted a shift in the LAC at patrol point 17A. Following the Galwan Valley skirmish, there were significant economic repercussions, including campaigns to boycott Chinese products. By November 2020, India had banned over 200 Chinese apps, including those from major firms like Alibaba and Tencen