The Indian and Chinese armies have agreed that patrolling will be done once every week in the Demchok and Depsang areas of eastern Ladakh. Both the armies have already done this patrol once. After the process of withdrawal of the armies of both the countries was completed in the last week of October, patrolling has been done by both sides in the first week of November.

Both sides agreed for patrolling

According to defence sources, both sides have agreed to patrol in coordination with each other once every week in Depsang and Demchok areas on the Line of Actual Control. The Indian Army will patrol each area once and the Chinese Army will patrol once.

Agreement reached on removal of temporary construction

After several rounds of discussions at political, diplomatic and military levels over the last four years since June 2020, the two countries had agreed to withdraw troops and temporary constructions from the five unresolved military standoff sites in Demchok and Depsang.

Ground commander level discussions continue

Now, even after the weekly patrol, the Indian and Chinese sides will continue ground commander level discussions in these areas at regular intervals. After mutual agreement, both sides also carried out verification patrolling to ensure that the temporary constructions have been destroyed along with the complete withdrawal of troops.

Why did India-China relations deteriorate?

Relations between India and China have been strained since the violent clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, leading to the most serious military conflict between the two countries in decades.

China is working on nuclear propulsion

China has built a prototype nuclear reactor for a warship, a clear sign that Beijing is moving towards building its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The Chinese navy is the world's largest navy by numbers and is modernising rapidly.

Conclusion after examining the hill site

Adding a nuclear-powered carrier to its fleet would be a major step for the country. Researchers at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California said they concluded after examining a mountain site outside the city of Leshan in Sichuan that China is building a prototype reactor for a large warship.