India, China discuss airspace intrusions

New Delhi, August 5

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India and China held a special round of military talks on Tuesday to discuss the growing threat of airspace violations along the LAC and the need to check it as per the agreement laid down in 1996.

What 1996 pact says

• Fighter aircraft & armed copters not to fly within 10 km of LAC
• If either side needs to come within 10 km of LAC, advance information must be given
• If any intrusion, it should cease as soon as detected. Incident to be promptly probed by the side operating the aircraft

The talks were held after the IAF flagged violations in breach of the 1996 agreement, which lays down how close to the LAC a plane or a helicopter can fly. In the past two months, there has been increased flying activity close to the LAC by China. With the high speed of modern planes and air defence missiles, the chance of an error also increases.

At the meeting which took place at the Chushul-Moldo border point in eastern Ladakh, India strongly objected to China “continuously flying” near the LAC.

In response to China’s provocation, the IAF in the past few weeks scrambled its jets – MiG 29 and Mirage 2000 — a few times.

A Major General-rank officer of the Leh-based 14 Corps and Air Commodore-rank officer from the Operations branch led the talks. Officers of equivalent rank from the Chinese side were present.