India-China disengagement at crucial points

India-China disengagement at crucial points

News: Recently, the Indian and Chinese troops have begun disengaging at Patrolling Pillar-15 (PP-15) in the Gogra- Hot spring region of Eastern Ladakh. The move comes ahead of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Key Highlights:
• PP-15 is one of the 65 patrolling points in Ladakh along the LAC. The recent disengagement has begun in planned and coordinated way which marks a way forward to maintain peace and status quo in the border areas.
• A buffer zone is to be created at the friction points once troops are withdrawn by both sides and new patrolling norms are to be
worked out after complete disengagement and de-escalation.
• Since the stand-off began in May 2020, the two sides have so far held 16 rounds of talks with disengagement undertaken from both
sides of Pangong Tso.
• With disengagement at PP-15, forces of the two countries have disengaged at all friction points in the region which included the
North and South banks of the Pangong Tso, PP-14, PP-15 and PP-17A.
• The friction points that remain now are Demchok and Depsang, which China has constantly refused to accept, maintaining that they are not a part of the current stand-off.

Significance of the location:
• Hot Springs is just north of the Chang Chenmo river and Gogra Post is east of the point where the river takes a hairpin bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest.
• The area lies close to Kongka Pass, one of the main passes, which, according to China, marks the boundary between India and China.
• India’s claim of the international boundary lies significantly east, as it includes the entire Aksai Chin area as well.
• Hot Springs and Gogra Post are close to the boundary between two of the most historically disturbed provinces (Xinjiang and Tibet) of China.

Note – From prelims perspective, you need to know the exact location of Depsang plains, Demchok area, Pangong Tso, identify whether River Indus passes through these places. Pick up your Atlas, find the locations and make a note of them on your physical map of India!