The video showing “unfurling of a Chinese flag in Galwan where troops clashed in 2020” is nothing but part of the “propaganda war” by Beijing against Delhi, diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian. “Indian agencies have cross-checked it and found that the place shown in the video is not the disputed area where Indian and Chinese soldiers had clashed in June 2020. The unfurling has taken place at a Chinese held place,” top sources said.
“The content of the video was thoroughly examined by the competent authority, and the feedback was shared with the diplomatic and army leaderships in a high-level meeting at South Block,” the sources said. “Circulation of the video and the massive amplification of the same by some in China is purely a part of Beijing’s ongoing propaganda war against India and a provocative practice that the PLA always resorts to,” a diplomat told The Daily Guardian.
It is reliably learnt that India has, through its diplomatic channels, conveyed the message to Beijing that it should stick to “mutually agreed upon protocols and agreements” regarding management of troops and other activities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). “China’s bid to alter the status quo in contravention of all bilateral agreements with India will not be accepted,” a diplomat said. “India has reminded China of its commitment to strictly abiding by relevant treaties and agreements signed by the two countries,” the diplomat added. “The video might have been shared at the instance of PLA leadership and Chinese strategists to provoke India to react. It’s not advisable to fall into the trap,” diplomats argued. “India wants the global community to take note of the same and expose China’s real intention,” an official said.
Earlier, a Chinese official media handle shared a video showing a Chinese flag being unfurled on 1 January. “China’s national flag rises over Galwan Valley on the New Year Day of 2022,” the video was captioned. It further said that the flag was special since it “once flew over Tiananmen Square in Beijing”.
Sources said that China may come up with similar videos and other means to provoke India in future amid the ongoing stand-off in eastern Ladakh. The Corps Commanders last met in October. The meeting could not result in a joint statement. The date for the next round of the meeting is yet to be finalized. However, the Indian side is said to have made its preparations to confront China with all the facts and figures that are sufficient to expose PLAs’ propaganda tactics.
Meanwhile, a report said that more than 20 months into the military standoff, China has deployed around 60,000 troops opposite the Indian territory in Ladakh and continuing its build infrastructure to help the faster movement of its forces to the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Chinese numbers had surged significantly during the summer season as they brought in a large number of troops for summer training. They have now gone back to their rear locations. However, they are still maintaining around 60,000 troops in the areas opposite Ladakh,” government sources said. The threat perception is there from the Chinese side as they continue to build infrastructure across the LAC.
New roads are being built opposite the Daulat Beg Oldie area and near the Pangong lake area, they said. Sources said the Indian side has also taken very strong steps to ensure that any possible misadventure from the Chinese side.
The Indian Army has brought in the forces of the counter-terrorism Rashtriya Rifles’ Uniform Force into the Ladakh theatre on the Eastern front even as the infrastructure build-up is continuing from the Indian side too. Sources said that the Indian Army is keeping all the mountain passes open to rush in troops if they are required at any of the friction points there. Sources also said that the Indian side is in the eyeball-to-eyeball situation with the Chinese troops only at one or two locations as at most of the places, two armies are separated by buffer zones.
Both sides are also deploying a large number of surveillance drones over the buffer zones to keep an eye on the movement of each others’ troops. Sources said the Chinese are finding the winter deployments very harsh as they are rotating troops at forward locations very fast. During their maiden deployment in the extreme winters in high-altitude locations, they were being rotated almost daily as they were suffering a lot of cold-related injuries.
(WITH AGENCY INPUTS)