 Today, we will discuss the new India-China disengagement on the border, particularly in Ladakh. I'm sure most of you have some idea about the history of India-China issues on the border. Many of you may not have been born in 1962, but I was a young boy at that time. It was one of the frightening things that happened to India. Because we had believed that India and China will work together, both ancient civilizations, peaceful countries, and so on. So Pandit Nehru developed an idea of India-China friendship extending into Asia and then perhaps Asia-Africa. Pandit Nehru had a vision of India and China working together, leading to create a group of countries which would counter both the West and the East. But his dream was totally destroyed in 1962 when China unleashed aggression against India along the border between India and China. Of course, going back when the Dalai Lama came to India because he was under threat of being destroyed, so he came as a refugee to India. And we received him and therefore China became more hostile to India because they had wanted to destroy Tibet as it existed. And the Dalai Lama's continued life in India was a major irritation for them. But till 1962, we were holding talks about the border. Various proposals were made to each other because they did not accept the traditional border which has an existence during the British period. So it was in the middle of this when we were negotiating honestly about the border that this aggression took place. And India was least prepared for it and therefore we had a huge setback. And I remember what experience we had at that time of being completely defeated in a war by China. The soldiers were not equipped for a war. We had not expected it. They did not have even proper clothes to fight a war in the mountains. So our army withdrew all the way down and left several parts of Indian territory in the hands of the Chinese. And they had come all the way down to the Assam area. And just as they came with great surprise, passing great surprise, they caused another surprise by quickly withdrawing from these areas. And the situation at that time was the whole of what is now called Aksai Chin which is Ladakh is part of it in the west. And Arunachal Pradesh in the east, they claimed for themselves and they occupied Aksai Chin something like 34,000 square kilometers. And they left Arunachal Pradesh but said Arunachal Pradesh belonged to them. So since then, we have had several rounds of discussions and the Chinese kept discussing issues, line of control, etc. etc. At the same time, occasionally they created one clash or the other on the border just to keep the whole issue open. They would not accept any of the proposals that we need and that they just were playing for time. They were not time bound. These discussions were not time bound. But we worked out some arrangement by which we said okay, let the border be discussed at the same time, let us have normal relations with China in 1988. Under that in 1993, we had an agreement that neither side shall try to alter the situation by the use of force. So we have a notional line of actual control on the border which is not marked anywhere, not clearly spelled out. But the idea was both the countries will keep peace on their side of the border without violating the line of actual control. So several times came into our territory causing confusion and concern among us and then after a lot of discussions etc. they say okay, we'll go back and we'll continue the discussion. So basically the idea was to keep India on its toes and so that they can negotiate from a power of strength from a position of strength to finally settle the border. But they don't seem to have the idea of doing that. And the last phase of the place in 2017 at a place called the Ocala which is the area where Bhutan India and China meet and there again the border is not clearly spelled out. So that also was resolved in some form no final solution. And in 2022 soon after the outbreak of the pandemic, China again started moving forces into this region and they started crossing the what we consider the line of control. Because the Chinese have their own idea where this line lies, we have our own idea. And we used to have arguments even sometimes, you know, some kind of conflict, not with arms and ammunition, no firing, but arguments and then they will go back sometimes they'll come back again etc. So the uncertain kind of situation. But we developed good relations and trade and other things and we were somehow managing it. But after the pandemic when the whole world was under panic, at that time, without any explanation of any kind, China again came into the same region as in 1962, the Ladakh region. And they moved in with this time with very heavy times and mortar heavy equipment and thousands of soldiers unprecedented since 1962. So we were completely taken aback, but not like in 1962. We were quite prepared for a situation like this. We have built roads all along the border. We have made certain structures on our side of the border. And we have a fortified and our army was fairly ready to meet this kind of aggression. So this happened in April 2020. And the more the most important areas where they invaded India or somewhere around Sikkim area. And also the Pangong Lake, because all these names may be unfamiliar to you, but you need to know at least the names when somebody says Pangong Lake, you should know where it is and what it is. It might be useful to look at a map. So there is a lake called Pangong Lake and the North Bank is occupied by China and the South Bank is occupied by India. And in our idea of this lake is some kind of a landmark which separates India and China. But here what happened was they came into what we consider our area and particularly an area called Galva, you must have heard about, where some fighting had taken place in 1962 also. But India's strategy right from the beginning was to deal with China in three different ways. One, to negotiate, start discussions. Secondly, to prepare ourselves, make ourselves strong as soon as possible. And third, meet them economically by creating barriers, trade barriers, economic barriers, etc. So that they pay a price for what they did. So several rounds of conversation took place, including at the foreign minister's level, national security advisers level, then local commanders level. There is a working mechanism for solution of problems in which army and civilians participate. So all these mechanisms were placed into action. And then we were told that China was going to withdraw from the Galvan area. Assuming that they were withdrawing an Indian army unit when they're basically to verify. Because we are principle is trust, because trust is deficient between India and China. But we have to trust a certain extent. So we trusted them, but we decided to verify and the Indian army went there. It was a clash to place. Of course, again, without firing a gun, but a physical fight in which strangely and unexpectedly Indian soldiers died about 20 of them. They were pushed down the hill or they froze to death in the water, whatever would be accepted and we acknowledge that 20 Indian soldiers were killed in this conflict. China have not said anything initially they said they suffered casualties themselves, but they said they did not say anything further but there were reports that China had lost 45 soldiers. And that is our calculation also. Recently, the Soviet Russian news agency put out a report saying it's called TASS, TASS is the Russian newspaper agency, news agency. And they put out a story confirming that actually 45 Chinese soldiers had died in Galvan area. But anyway, after that they pulled out of that and there was considerable peace there. But in the other areas on the two sides of the Pangong river, there was no movement except sometimes they push us and we push them back. And again, they come back and try to capture some land and they did, we had to move back occasionally. So this went on for quite some time. And neither side was stopping or concealing anything. And at this stage, India took a tactical move. For the first time we have done this, this has not been done in the past. There is something called a Kailash range on the southern side of Pangong lake, which is entirely Indian. Nobody was claiming it or anything like that. But these heights, they were called the so-called Kailash Heights, you know, not very hospitable. It was very difficult for soldiers to go there. Even after you go there, it is difficult to stay there and not enough support areas that was there. But we quickly managed to establish some facilities there. And on the night of 29 30th August, India surprised China by occupying these heights. There was nothing in this because this is our own territory. But still the Chinese try to resist it. Why? Because if Indian soldiers are on top of these heights, they have a very good view of the Chinese soldiers on the other side of the lake. And from a strategic point of view, from a defense point of view, this is very inconvenient for the Chinese side. At the same time, they couldn't say anything because this is our own land. But their argument was that India was not there before and why you have occupied even your own land. Because even in the case of Nakhalam, they were asking us to move from our own land. But we did not do that. And here again, they started pushing us to come away from the heights that we had occupied. And so the uncertainties continued and discussions continued also. At various levels, we have fairly working arrangements with China. At the commander's level, even lower levels and also at the higher level, we have always had communications with China. Except that we had no explanation as to what they were trying to do. And finally, just the other day, about four or five days ago, the Chinese made an announcement. That it has started withdrawing from the northern side of the Bangong Lake to areas which they used to occupy before this situation changed in April. So the traditional position, they said they were moving. But at the same time, they said that they were moving in a synchronized and organized manner to disengage. India had not said anything. So it was surprising because they were talking about a synchronized and organized withdrawal. And we did not hear anything from our authorities. So the first news came after nine months of a kind of standoff or standstill. They declared that an arrangement has been reached or an agreement has been reached between India and China to have a synchronized, which means they move a little, we move a little. And also in an organized disengagement. Why India did not announce it because our parliament was in session. And such important matters if they occur during a parliament session, we are supposed to announce it only in the parliament. So our defence minister Rajnath Singh spoke in Rajasabha and in Lok Sabha confirming what the Chinese had announced. But we said that both the sides have agreed to seize their deployment in the new areas and they will go back to the original positions. Which meant that there was no need for any clash. These areas are fairly well known, conflicts had taken place earlier. And there are some areas which India was patrolling and other areas China was patrolling. And LAC was of course not very clearly known, but there used to be confrontation once in a while that the Indians will go take a patrol into this region. And show our interest and also our presence. And sometimes they will encounter the Chinese, they come to the same areas. And there would be a little bit of shouting or a little bit of arguments and both go back to their original position. That area is known as finger three, which is established as India's position. And finger eight, these are these, you know, extension of land, which looks like human fingers. And eight is the established position for China and three is the established position for India. But we used to move further into the other side and there from their side because that area was not demarcated for India. So now what has happened is we go to our position three and they will go to their position in eight. And the new thing here is that no patrolling will be done in this area till further discussion and decision. This is a new development because they're withdrawing to our withdrawing to three and they're withdrawing to eight was nothing unusual. But the general practice of patrolling the other side or LAC, I know actual control was stopped or suspended. And this is what it is being characterized as a moratorium on patrolling. So we'll come to that. What does it mean? And how does it affect our interest? So everybody has not moved yet, but it is confirmed that both sides have started moving artillery weapons, you know, huge machinery, etc. Because it takes time and tanks. Both have deployed tanks because this area is somewhat flat. It's called a tankable area. So in this area, they move the tanks backwards both sides and other vehicles back backwards. And of course, the soldiers are still preparing themselves and they have to bring down the structure they have built here in the sphere. For them to live there, they need facilities. And both sides have agreed also to demolish those structures. So please remember they withdraw to finger three, which is established as India's position. And the Chinese go to finger eight and that area is about six to eight kilometers. I don't know the region very well, but only on maps. So and this area in effect will become what is called a no man's land. And this is a proposal that China had made many years ago saying that we created no man's land in this area so that there is no clash and nobody goes to the other side. And in effect, that is what we have accepted. So we have accepted to go back to our position. They have agreed to go back to their position and the principle being that status quo as in April 2020 will be restored. So Prime Minister's promise to India, to his people was that we will go back to April 2020 position before the Chinese go. That's our commitment. And that is what we have been trying to do. So in a sense, we have achieved it. It is a 2020 April 2020 position. But we have lost in some ways. First, because we have to move from our own territory in the Kailash Ridge, which we occupied with great difficulty, though they are on our own side. And China want to try to resist it. So in a way, we have conceded to China that these heights will be vacated. And strategically, it is very important for China. This is one concession we have made. The second concession is that we have agreed to suspend patrolling. To an extent, both suggesting that they will not claim this region and it may become a no man's land. There is an argument going on between the government and the opposition that whether this no man's land is mostly Indian land or is it mostly Chinese land. We say that we have not conceded even an inch of Indian territory as the Indian position. So when you say Indian territory and Chinese territory, it's all very unclear. You cannot say that this is a stone here or a line here. No. So in principle, we have said that we have not surrendered. But the biggest criticism against the government is, why did we withdraw from our own territory? In fact, many strategic thinkers in India, particularly army officials who have served in this region. They have said that even if the Chinese refuse to withdraw from Pangong Lake, we should not withdraw from the Kailash Raj. Because that would be tactically a mistake that India makes. And this was a big achievement that we have gained as a result of this and therefore we should not withdraw. And that has been overruled by the government of India. So that is criticism that we have gone back. But the Prime Minister is right when he says that we have restored status quo. That means now the situation is exactly what it was in April 2020. With the additional factor that we have removed all the construction that we built there. We will not patrol this region and this will become a no man's life. So this is what has happened. And this is considered a gain for both sides and more than anything else for peace. So generally countries around the world who are interested in this situation will welcome this because it is a progress in that way in this region. But the first we have to deal with the challenge by the opposition. Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Mr. Anthony have spoken against it. Mr. Rahul Gandhi more politically saying that we are surrendered to China. The Prime Minister has no guts to stand up to the Chinese. This is all done by a few people. Nobody knows. The opposition has not been taken into confidence. And there is a surrender of Indian land which should never be permitted. And so he made a lot of accusations. They were basically political accusations and not necessarily speak on specific issues. But Mr. A.K. Anthony who tried to speak about it in the Rajya Sabha, he was not permitted to do so. So he called the press conference and made the same points that Mr. Rahul Gandhi had made. Saying that we lost out is not fair that India has accepted this. And therefore this is a very major defeat for India. And as a result, this may have implications for India. And so he said why did we move on from there and we should have insisted on the Chinese going away. And then the issue was what happened to the other two major areas. A place called the Goghra and a place called Debsan. These are areas which are very vital for India and as vital for India as well as for China. Because if they have to move from Debsan and leave Debsan for us, China will become vulnerable. India will not be, they become vulnerable. And if we withdraw in Debsan, we will also become vulnerable and Goghra also. But this has not even been discussed. So Mr. Anthony is saying that we should have solved all these problems. Not pieces, not in the bits and pieces because then we will not know that we are making these concessions. And the opposition view, the Congress point of view is that this has been a surrender. But impartial observers accept that this was a good beginning. And this is not ended. Mr. Rajnath Singh said that this is not final. Many things have to be yet settled. And nothing is settled unless everything is settled. So that's a principle that people accept. But this criticism is also there. Then when will these be discussed? And how these will be resolved, resolved, we don't know. So the disengagement in Galwan Valley and Pangong are reality. Even though the opposition says that this is a surrender to India's rights. But the government is saying that this is a progress. And now we'll have to deal with Debsan and Goghra etc. in future. And then of course, discussions will continue with the representatives of the two governments as to where the border lay. So on that issue, things are still all over. But rightly so, what happened from April 2020 has been corrected, strictly speaking. Even though there are these other elements in it. So we are saying that it might be, we are saying that we will probably be able to deal with the other situations, Debsan and Goghra etc. And we will move towards a solution to this problem. Now, India will now be staying near Finger 3, which is called Thapas Place. And this is a little history just for the sake of interest. This is an area where a big fierce fight took place under a major of the Indian army called Major Thapa. And he was in 62. He was surprised when the Chinese attacked him and his small number of soldiers. In the first attack, they killed half of them. Then they killed the other half. And the belief was that all of them were killed. Major Thapa was given the Paramir Chakra most famously and he was honored in the belief that he had died. But it turned out later that the Chinese had taken prisoners of three Indian soldiers, including Major Thapa. And this gentleman who was supposed to have died emerged. He came back. And another soldier escaped from Chinese prison. And so out of the three, two survived. And so this area is named after Major Thapa who fought valiantly in this region. That is what you hear about that. So from Finger 3 to Finger 8, we have not conceded it. This is what we have to remember. What Mr. Rahul Gandhi said was that we have conceded, we have given up this land etc. But that is not true, but this is still to be discussed. One strange thing is that somebody produced a newspaper clipping of July 1962. And history had repeated itself because in 1962, before the actual war took place, there was a conflict in this very area. Galvan and the lake. And there was a huge news item in the Indian Express of that day, saying Prime Minister welcomes withdrawal of Chinese troops from Ladakh in July 1962. Everybody was happy. And in October 1962, China started its aggression against India. So many people are very skeptical about what happened. So if in 1962 the same thing had happened and the war started, what is the guarantee that the war will not start again? This is to make it make the reality check as it were. So we should not be unusually happy that this has happened because this has happened before also. And it led to a war situation. So yes, it is progress, it's acceptable. We have to take this further. But there is no reason for us to be unnecessarily happy. And one other incident that took place is Mr. VK Singh, General VK Singh, who is now a minister in Modi cabinet, but he is not dealing with the France. When the question of crossing of the LAC was mentioned, for the first time he said as a former general, he said we also have crossed the LAC many times. That came as a surprise to most of us because we had never conceded that we had crossed. Yes, we went patrolling etc. just to establish our claim. But to say that we crossed the LAC and he also said we have crossed the LAC more times than the Chinese have. He said if they have crossed 10 times, we have crossed 50 times. I don't know why he said this, but the Chinese have immediately said, the Indians have been lying so far. Now they are telling the truth. And this is the problem. They keep crossing the line of control. And this is not something that we have ever conceded. But even now, officially, the Government of India has not confirmed it. But General VK Singh often says things like that. He was the first one to say the Chinese died in the Galwan Valley or 45 years ago. That also he was the first one to give it to the newspapers. So this is a side story. So as prospective civil service officers, this is an aspect India, China conflict and the border etc are fundamental for you. You should know these details. Not in the minor details, but the general trend. So what do we have to remember? We have to remember that the standoff of about nine months has ended in two sectors. And this is progress. And there are other sectors to be clear. But that would be a matter for further discussion. And the opposition has not accepted that this is a victory. And they have said this is a surrender while the government has claimed that this is progress. As a result of first of all, we took very strong action by taking the Kailash range that the Government of India keeps saying that was a very crucial decision that we took. And it's because of that crucial decision that the Chinese are now making sessions, which is also or which may also be true. So, once this is not going to be easy, it's a very cold area and this, and that is getting colder and colder, and the movement of people that are very, very slow. And so this may take weeks or months. And it will be then that we'll be addressing the other issue and by then the snow may have melted and we may be able to consider this in greater detail. So it's a limited success and beginning of a settlement of some of these issues, but we should not have any illusion that this is a final settlement or whether it is even a problem. But it is not certainly a surrender as the opposition gains. So these are the things that you have to remember. You must remember these words north and south of the Pangong link. You should know what it is, where it is. And then these fingers, if you look at the map, you'll see these fingers numbered as such. And so these are all areas indicated as line of actual control and settlement will be made only after the discussions are completed. And China seems to be in no hurry. So many of you after you join the Foreign Service or the other service or become ambassadors of India, you may still be dealing with this, even if in the examination, you may not have to answer any questions. But this is something that will follow you. I don't know how long and therefore this is extremely important. Thank you very much.