As part of confidence building measures, Eastern Command chief lt General Abhay Krishna will visit China next month to interact with top Chinese military officials. His visit comes close on the heels of a high-powered ten-member Chinese military delegation coming to India earlier this month.
These interactions signal a thaw in relations between the two countries which were strained last year following a 70-day stand-off between the two Armies at Doklam plateau near Sikkim. The face-off ended following intervention at the highest diplomatic and political levels. The stand-off ensued after India prevented the Chinese from constructing a road in Doklam which is strategically important for India.
Incidentally, a 20-member Chinese Army team participated in a joint yoga session with Indian troops in ladakh on the occasion of International Yoga Day on June 21. Moreover, talks are now on between the two Governments to resume annual joint anti-terrorist exercise ‘Hand in Hand.’
China was scheduled to host the Indian Army team for this exercise last year but it could not take place due to strained ties due to Doklam issue. The exercise is likely to be held in November in China, officials said on Thursday.
The Chinese military delegation, led by Deputy Commander of its Western Theater Command lt General liu Xiaowu, had visited Kolkata-based Eastern Command of the Indian Army and also interacted with top military officers of 33 Corps based in Sukna. This corps is responsible for guarding the line of Actual Control (lAC) in Sikkim where the Doklam incident took place. The Chinese team also visited New Delhi and Agra.