7/17/2020 India’s firm message to China: Pullback of troops is non-negotiable - Times of India

Printed from

India’s firm message to China: Pullback of troops is non-

negotiable
TNN | Jul 18, 2020, 08.59 AM IST

NEW DELHI: The last round of talks between Indian and Chinese military
commanders saw the Indian side resolutely and firmly convey that
Chinese troops need to vacate intrusions in the Pangong Tso area and
nothing short of restoration of pre-May 5 status quo will do.

The lengthy discussions on Tuesday were held, as previous exchanges, in

a cordial manner but the Indian messaging was insistent in underlining
that a Chinese pullback from areas where the People’s Liberation Army
has intruded is simply non-negotiable. The tonality of the conversation
would not leave any doubt on this score, said a source.

India’s firm message to China: Pullback of troops is non-negotiable

India-China face-off: Follow live updates

While official statements point to the complicated and time-consuming verification process for disengagement, Indian
commanders made the bottomline unambiguously clear in the course of the talks with the Chinese brass.

The discussion on Depsang, where also China claims to be within its side of the LAC, was on similar lines. The Indian position
was that the Chinese must sit down and discuss where the LAC lies and avoid provocative acts. “It cannot be that neither the
line is discussed nor is there an end to intrusions,” the source said.

LAC stand-off: Complete coverage

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-firm-message-to-china-pullback-of-troops-is-non-negotiable/articleshowprint/77029622.cms 1/2
7/17/2020 India’s firm message to China: Pullback of troops is non-negotiable - Times of India

Indian forces buttressed the negotiating position with a significant exercise demonstrating “application of integrated combined
force in high altitude terrain” in the presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday. The intent was to demonstrate that
Indian capacities in the region now pack a punch.

ALSO READ
Hopeful, but can’t guarantee China talks outcome: Rajnath Singh

The unsaid signal to China is fairly evident that India will not shirk from use of force — and is in fact very well prepared in this
respect — in the event of a confrontation as it seeks restoration of status quo. The readiness to use military muscle comes even
as India pursues a negotiated easing of tensions along the Line of Actual Control.

The Indian position has found support in several interactions with other countries even if there is no expectation or desire of
any direct intervention. The operational and intelligence cooperation that is and will be available has considerable value and
point to China’s current isolation, officials said.

ALSO READ
In signal to China, Navy holds drill off Andaman and Nicobar Islands

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-firm-message-to-china-pullback-of-troops-is-non-negotiable/articleshowprint/77029622.cms 2/2