China's hostility breaks pattern of three decades: Ex-foreign secretary Nirupama Menon Rao

BENGALURU:  Former foreign secretary and former Ambassador to China Nirupama Menon Rao, in an interview to TNIE, drew attention to a definite and perceptible change in China’s terms of engagement with India, and felt it would be a harbinger of a paradigm shift going into the future.

"We are seeing a very hostile and violently assertive face of China, which is quite at variance with their behaviour in the past three decades of constructive engagement," she said.

Asked if it can ever be business as usual after the Galwan standoff, she said, "I presume there will be a slowing down of bilateral contacts and that a degree of chill will set in the short and possibly medium-term."

On PM Modi’s statement not being in sync with the MEA position, she said, "Regrettably, various interpretations about what the PM said were rife. It could have been obviated if immediate steps were taken to clarify what was said.”

Military brass briefs Defence Minister about ground situation at Ladakh

The defence minister will leave for Russia on Monday to participate in the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Singh’s meeting with the CDS and the services chiefs assumes significance as the meetings between Indian and Chinese military officers in the Eastern Ladakh halted after three days. Thursday was the last meeting when the 10 Indian soldiers were released by the Chinese side.

The stand-off between the two armies continues at two points in Galwan Valley, Patrolling Point 14 and Patrolling Point 15, at Gogra Post (Patrolling Point 17A) in the Hot Spring Sector and Finger 4 on the Northern Flank of the Pangong Tso Lake. Sources said that soldiers in equal numbers from both countries are positioned on both sides of Patrolling Point 14. The stand-off remains at other points also, confirmed the sources.

As for Trump, the US president had earlier offered to mediate between India and China but his offer was rejected by both countries saying they were engaged in peaceful military and diplomatic discussions to resolve the issue.

The Trump administration has stood by India and blamed China for escalation of tensions." We extend our deepest condolences to the people of India for the lives lost as a result of the recent confrontation with China," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had tweeted and called China a ‘rouge actor’ on Friday.

Change in tactics

According to sources, the ground commanders of the Army have even been allowed to use firearms in rare cases, in a departure from the decades-old understanding between the two militaries to not resort to fire power in face-offs. The ground commanders have been given full freedom to take decisions depending on the situation," a senior military officer said.