Chocolate diplomacy: PLA makes up with Indian Army after another trangression attempt
After a mild scuffle broke out at the Line of Actual Control when the PLA personnel attempted transgression, the PLA officers presented chocolates to the Indian Army officers.
In Short
- Mild scuffle when PLA personnel were stopped while transgressing into Arunachal.
- Afterwards
- PLA gifted chocolates to Indian Army.
- Kiren Rijiju denied any scuffle.
According to the intelligence report accessed by India Today, a mild scuffle reportedly took place between the Indian Army and Peoples' Liberation Army personnel after the Indian Army stopped their Chinese counterpart approximately 650 meters East of Shankar Tikri.
Soon after, the PLA officers gifted chocolates to the Indian Army to make up for the supposed transgression attempt.
GOVERNMENT DENIES
However, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, denied any tussle. He was upset over the fact that questions were being raised about the position of the Indian Army. He said "there was no firing, no intrusion and no transgression by the Chinese PLA forces into our territory."
He also added that some differences had cropped up and they were resolved peacefully.
CHOCOLATE DIPLOMACY
Subsequently after the reported scuffle, four PLA officers and an interpreter met the Commanding Officer at Brass Wall (approximately 400 metres north-east of Shankar Tikri) on the Line of Actual Control and presented him two chocolate packets. One gift packet was also presented to the in-charge of the Yanki post.
EARLIER TRANSGRESSION BY THE PLA
This incident comes only two days after the top defense officials confirmed a transgression by the Chinese Army in Arunachal Pradesh's Yangtse region. On June 9, nearly 250 soldiers of the PLA divided into four groups transgressed into Arunachal's East Kameng district.
How China is provoking India: 250 soldiers intrude into Arunachal, Beijing blocks India's NSG bid
The Yangtse transgression was around the same time that India's bid for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was blocked by Beijing.
US-led push for India joining NSG gains ground, China remains defiant
YANGTSE: A DISPUTED POCKET
Yangtse is identified as a disputed pocket between the two countries and is under possession of India. PLA patrols in area are unusually big as compared to other areas. The first transgression was reported in 2007. The area has witnessed consistent transgressions since 2011.
Also Read:
While China continues to develop across LAC, Indian villages struggle for basic amenities
J&K govt approves 150km-long Chushul-Demchok road despite China's objections