Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will visit China late next month in the backdrop of strained ties between the two countries over the 73-day long stand- off between their armies in Doklam last year. The issue was resolved after intervention at the highest political and diplomatic levels.
Confirming the visit, Sitharaman said here on Monday on the sidelines of a function “Yes, (the visit is) probably sometime in late April.” She, however, did not elaborate on the agenda of the meeting. last week, defence ministry officials had denied reports about the minister’s proposed visit. Resumption of joint exercise ‘Hand in Hand’ in China this year is likely to be discussed during Sitharaman’s talks with her counterpart. It could not be held last year while India hosted the exercise in 2016. Moreover, efforts to maintain peace and tranquility at the 4,000 km long line of Actual Control(lAC) and more interaction at the local commanders level to prevent Doklam like episodes may also figure during the talks, sources said.
The two sides will also explore the possibility to have a hotline between the Director General of Military Operations at the earliest on the lines of a similar confidence building measure between India and Pakistan. New Delhi and Beijing had agreed to talk some years back to have this hotline.