Stock Image | Photo credit: BCCL
New Delhi: The situation along the Royal Line of Control (LAC) in Ladakh continues to be tense with troops from both countries locked in clashes at various points along the de facto border.
The two countries reached a five-point consensus last week to resolve the border confrontation. The consensus was reached at a meeting between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow on the sidelines of the SCO meeting.
The two sides agreed to “quickly withdraw” the troops, avoid actions that could lead to an escalation of tensions, and take measures to restore “peace and tranquility” in LAC.
However, just days after India and China reached the crucial consensus message that no adverse incidents have been reported in eastern Ladakh, a warning came through Beijing’s state media.
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the state-run Global Times newspaper, tweeted on Monday warning that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army was “ready to deal a severe blow to Indian troops.” Along with the tweet, Hu also tagged a video of PLA troops participating in a military exercise.
“The PLA is training attack tanks in the Tibet region. Yes, it targets the border situation between China and India. China hopes that the five-point consensus reached between the two foreign ministers can be implemented, but is ready to deal a severe blow to the Indian troops if they refuse to implement it, “Hu said in a provocative tweet, not in keeping with the otherwise expressed sentiment of seeking peace and quiet.
Hu’s statement is important as he editorially heads a newspaper that is nothing more than the spokesman for the government in Beijing.
The tweet came even as Indian government sources expressed confidence that the five-point agreement will guide the path that the current border situation will take in the coming weeks.
“The two foreign ministers agreed that the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either party. Therefore, they agreed that the border troops of both parties should continue their dialogue, withdraw quickly, maintain the appropriate distance and alleviate tensions, “he added. Joint press release issued by the Foreign Ministry after last week’s crucial talks, he had said.
