The recent 12th round of talks between India’s and China’s high-ranking military commanders concerning the standoff in eastern Ladakh has shed light on ongoing issues. An agreement was made in principle to disengage at Patrolling Point (PP)17A, located at the Gogra post, contrasting the unsuccessful 11th round of Corps Commander-level discussions held in April 2021 where no joint statement could even be agreed upon.
Nonetheless, disagreements persist. China has demonstrated reluctance to withdraw from PP15, located in the Hot Springs region, insisting they are only maintaining their side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The route to disengagement at PP17A will likely follow the process established for PP14 in the Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso, involving a set timeframe for withdrawal. Efforts are being made by both sides to expedite resolutions in accordance with existing agreements and protocols, aiming to maintain dialogue momentum and negotiations while jointly preserving peace and stability along the LAC in the Western sector.
Understanding Patrolling Points
In the area of the LAC between India and China, specific locations have been assigned to the Indian Army to patrol and monitor the territory under its control. Known as patrolling points or PPs, these locations are decided by the China Study Group (CSG), the apex decision-making body on China that was formed in 1976.
The boundary between India and China is not yet officially delineated, so this exercise of patrolling holds significance. The LAC serves as the demarcation line that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. Of the 65 patrolling points located in Ladakh along the LAC, PP15 and PP17A are two key points where India and China largely share a mutual understanding regarding the alignment of the LAC.
Geographical Importance of Hot Springs and Gogra Post
Hot Springs is situated north of the Chang Chenmo river, while Gogra Post is to the east of the river’s sharp bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest. The area lies close to the Kongka Pass, a key pass that China considers as the boundary line between the two nations. However, India’s claim for their international border extends significantly more to the east, including the entire Aksai Chin region.
These points are also strategically located near the borders of two of China’s most historically disturbed provinces, Xinjiang and Tibet, making them particularly sensitive areas.
Friction Points and Location Details
Apart from PP15 and PP17A, other points of contention include PP14 in the Galwan Valley, Finger 4 on the northern bank of Pangong Tso, and Rezang La and Rechin La on the southern bank of the Chang Chenmo river. To understand their significance, it becomes essential to highlight the features and strategic importance of these regions:
– Pangong Lake, or Pangong Tso, located in the Union Territory of Ladakh, is the world’s highest saltwater lake, extending to around 160km with about one-third of it lying in India and the rest in China.
– The Galwan Valley is sandwiched between steep mountains along the Galwan River which flows from the east to Ladakh where it converges with the Shyok river. This valley is situated strategically between Ladakh in the west and Aksai Chin in the east, the latter of which is currently controlled by China as part of its Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
– The Chang Chenmo River, a tributary of the Shyok River, lies at the disputed Aksai Chin region’s southern edge and north of the Pangong Lake basin.
– The Kongka Pass or Kongka La, a low mountain pass, intrudes into the Chang Chenmo Valley and lies within the disputed India-China border area in Ladakh.
– Lastly, the Karakoram Range, also known as Krishnagiri, forms the northern-most range of the Trans-Himalayan ranges. This range demarcates India’s frontiers with Afghanistan and China and extends for about 800 km. The Ladakh Plateau lies to its north-east.
