Chinese army enters Indian waters at Pangong Lake

Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently made a two-pronged simultaneous incursion by sending its troops into Indian waters in Pangong lake as well as 5 km deep into the Indian territory through the land route in the same area, according to reports.

Official sources said on Sunday that according to reports received by security agencies, Chinese boats entered Indian waters at Pangong lake nestled in the higher reaches of Ladakh on October 22.

These incursions were simultaneously backed by the Chinese troops on the road built along Pangong lake which took place in eastern Ladakh and on the northern bank of Pangong Lake, located 168 km from Leh.

However, alert troops of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) noticed the movement of Chinese troops and intercepted them at the imaginary line that is supposed to be the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the lake. The ITBP soldiers also blocked the Chinese troops mounted on mountain terrain vehicles who were trying to cross over the LAC by road.

A banner drill, in which both sides wave banners claiming it to be their territory, was carried out which was followed by a face-off between the troops of the two sides.

However, the Chinese troops had to return after the Indian forces did not allow them to move their boats or vehicles forward . The Chinese troops had managed to enter up to Finger IV area in the region from where they were sent back. This area has been a bone of contention between India and China as both claim it to be a part of their territory.

When the Indian side was trying to back its claim on the area during negotiations, the Chinese Army constructed a metal-top road and claimed the area to be part of Aksai Chin area, the sources said.

China had constructed a road up to Finger IV which falls under the Siri Jap area and is 5 km deep into the LAC, the sources said.