Why in News ?

India-China agree on 5-point plan of action to disengage and reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) where Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a four and a half month long stand-off.

5-Point Plan of Action

• The five-point plan is
  • Disengaging quickly to ease tensions
  • Abiding by the existing India-China border protocols and avoiding escalatory action
  • Following the consensus between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping to not allow differences to become disputes. 
  • Continuing the dialogue between the Special Representatives, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Mr. Wang, as well as the other mechanisms.
  • Working towards new confidence-building measures (CBMs).
• How this helpful ?
  • To ensure a comprehensive disengagement of troops in all the friction areas and to prevent any untoward incident in the future.

What is the issue ?

• Chinese Version
  • Indian Army illegally crossing the line on August 31 at two points at the south bank of Pangong lake and near the Reqin mountain pass (near Rezang La) and blatantly provoked and caused tension on the border.
• Indian Claim
  • On the night of August 29/30, PLA troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and
    diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff.

In general face-offs occur when patrols encounter each other in the contested zones between overlapping claim lines.

Where is the Pangong Tso Lake?

• Lake that is partly in India’s Ladakh region and partly in Tibet is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas.
• An Inner Line Permit is required to visit the lake as it lies on the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control. For security reasons, India does not permit boating.
• China National Highway 219 passes by the eastern end of Pangong Tso.
• Nearly 20 km east from the Line of Actual Control is controlled by China but claimed by India.
• K2, the world’s second highest peak, ends at the north bank of Pangong Tso.
• The lake freezes during the winter even though its salinity which allowing some vehicular movement on it as well.

Why China tries to occupy the region ?

• Chinese troops continue to occupy the Finger 4 ridgeline, though they have stepped back from the base of Finger 4 to the base of Finger 5.
• Pangong Tso is strategically crucial as it is very close to Chusul Valley and they wants to keep the region of strategical importance. 
• Any kind of construction in the region may thwart Chinese importance in the strategic location and occupation in Aksaichin region. 
• Besides the major involvement of India in the region may hit China-Pak corridor, so China wants to keep the region tension high. 

Source : The Hindu

Topic

GS II : India and its neighbourhood – relations

Current Affairs Compilation : 12 September 2020