JOIN USThe future of a pre-scheduled training exercise between Indian and Chinese armies looks uncertain because the two sides are yet to hold the planning meeting for the exercise, slated in November.
The two governments had long back decided to hold the fourth edition of the bilateral exercise, named Hand-in-Hand, in India in 2014. Originally scheduled to he held in Barrackpore in October, the venue and time was later changed to Bhatinda in November.
When a Chinese delegation, led by People’s Liberation Army’s Deputy Chief of General Staff (Operations) Lt Gen Qi Jianguo met a high-level Indian Army delegation in April, they agreed on this. But less than two months before the exercise, neither the initial nor the final planning meeting for the exercise have taken place, which is unusual, to say the least, for a disciplined Army.
For instance, Exercise Yudh Abhyas with the US Army that commenced at Chaubattia, Uttarakhand on September 17, was decided almost a year back. Dates, venue and contours of all bilateral exercises with foreign nations are decided several months in advance.
A joint statement released at the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit says the two sides agreed to hold the fourth joint army training at a mutually convenient time. The specifics that were agreed upon earlier, have not been mentioned, raising doubts on the fate of the exercise. While there is no official word from the Army, sources said final plans for the exercise had not been approved by the two armies as there is no planning meeting so far.
This was to be the second Indian venue of Hand-in-Hand exercise, meant to promote mutual trust. The first one was held at Belgaum in 2008. Two editions of the exercise took place in China – Kunming in 2007 and Chengdu in 2013.
The last edition at Chengdu involved about 160 personnel of 16 Sikh Light Infantry of Indian Army and similar strength of 1st Battalion Infantry Division of 13 group of the PLA.