India, China set up new hotel in
Sikkim
AT A time
when India and China are hoping to resolve the nearly 15-month military
standoff in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army
have established a new hotline for on-ground communication in Sikkim. Multiple
such hotlines already exist between the two forces.
A hotline
was established between Indian army in North Sikkim and the People's Liberation
Army (PLA) in Tibet on 1 Aug'21.
The hotline
has been established to "further the spirit of trust and cordial relations
along the borders.
This is the
sixth hotline to be established between the two countries.
There are
two in the Ladakh sector, two in Arunachal Pradesh, and two in the Sikkim
sector.
The Army
said in a statement on Sunday that a “hotline was established between Indian
Army in Kongra La, North Sikkim, and the PLA at Khamba Dzong in Tibetan
Autonomous Region to further the spirit of trust and cordial relations along
the borders”. It said the establishing of the new hotline coincided with PLA
Day, on August 1.
The event coincided with
People’s Liberation Army Day on August 1, it said. The day is celebrated to
commemorate the founding of the People’s Liberation Army in China.
The
hotline is between the Indian Army in Kongra La, North Sikkim, and China’s
People’s Liberation Army at Khamba Dzong in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, the
statement said.
“The
armed forces of the two countries have well-established mechanisms for
communication at ground commanders level,” the Army said, according to PTI.
“These hotlines in various sectors go a long way in enhancing the same and
maintaining peace and tranquility at the borders.”
The setting up of the
hotline came amid a continued standoff between the two armies at various
friction points in eastern Ladakh such as Hot Springs, Gogra Post, Demchok and
Depsang Plains.
India
and China had held the 12th round of Corps Commander talks on July 31 in Moldo
on the Chinese side, according to The Hindu. The details of the
meeting are awaited.
The two sides held the 12th round of Corps Commander talks on Saturday
at Moldo on the Chinese side. The details of the outcome are awaited.
As reported by The Hindu earlier, since the stand-off began in eastern
Ladakh in May 2020, in addition to the Corps Commander level talks, the two
sides have also held ten Major General level talks, 55 Brigadier level talks,
and around 1,450 calls over the two hotlines.
In February, during a
telephonic conversation, the Foreign Ministers of India and China had agreed to
establish a new hotline between the Foreign Ministries to ensure “timely
communication” in the backdrop of the Ladakh stand-off.
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