India, China in a face-off in Sikkim

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 26

Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a face-off in Sikkim. This comes after a face-off east of the Karokaram Pass in northern Ladakh in May and another at the Pangong Tso (lake) in eastern Ladakh in the first week of June.

During the summer months, the two sides often come face to face as the boundary along the Himalayan ridge line is not demarcated. It is loosely called the Line of Actual Control. 

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Troops of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) jostled with the Indian Army in Sikkim. Both sides were unarmed. Two Indian makeshift bunkers were destroyed in Doka La at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction. On June 20, a flag meeting was held at Nathu La,  but tensions continue.

Historically, there has never been a demarcated boundary. There were similar face-offs in Karokaram Pass in mid-May with Chinese troops arriving daily for four-five days in a row, sources   said. In  Pangong Tso, Chinese boats transgressed for a few successive days in June. This was countered.

The standard operating procedure (SOP) is activated if the border personnel come face to face. The mandate is: “Throughout the face-to-face situation, neither side shall use force or threaten to use force.” It also calls upon both sides to stop their activities in the area and not advance. They have to return to their bases after the ‘banner drill’.

Last week, the Chinese had stopped Kailash Mansarovar yatra pilgrims through Nathu La, citing damaged road conditions. This even as trade was conducted through Nathu La till a few days earlier.