India-China undertake unprecedented coordinated patrol on disputed LAC

The Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) are conducting an unprecedented coordinated patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in south-east Arunachal Pradesh. The co-ordinated patrolling exercise will be conducted in the Fish-Tail 2 which is one of the 13 disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in south-east Arunachal Pradesh. The initiative is being taken to build mutual confidence and maintain peace along the LAC.

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India proposes 'coordinated patrolling', China accepts

The idea of co-ordinated patrolling was proposed by India at a high-level meeting between the Indian Army and Chinese People’s Liberation Army. The meeting took place in June, ahead of the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, earlier this month. China agreed to the Indian proposal of a structured 'coordinated patrolling' along Fish-Tail 2, which led to the first of its kind coordinated military activity being undertaken by the two countries.

Fish-Tail 1 & 2 are among the most remote areas along the LAC and India’s road infrastructure is extremely poor in this area. India, however, regularly sends patrols, some of which take up to a month to reach their destination. The PLA conducts occasional patrolling in the region.

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India-China come a long way from Dokhlam

The 73-day-long standoff between the two sides at Dokhlam had created a war-like situation in 2017, following which the leadership of the two nations decided on the timely and necessary Wuhan Summit in 2018 that relaxed the tension between the two sides on the border. The coordinated patrolling between the two armies is considered to be a welcomed move in order to enhance mutual relations and maintain peace between the two Asian powers. India has also ramped up its infrastructure by increasing the number of outposts along the border supported by increased manpower and patrolling along the LAC with China.

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