China in focus as Singh meets US defence secy

India on Monday briefed the United States on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, where the Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army have been locked in a border row for more than three years, the Chinese military build-up across the contested LAC, and countermeasures taken by India to deal with any contingency during talks between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Lloyd J Austin, officials aware of the matter said.

NEW DELHI: “The regional security situation, including the latest developments along the LAC and Pakistan-backed terror, was discussed during the delegation-level talks. Both sides have been tracking China’s moves closely in the region as well as in the Indo-Pacific,” said one of the officials cited above, asking not to be named.

India and China have held 18 round of talks to ease tensions along the LAC but outstanding problems at Depsang and Demchok are still on the negotiating table. Despite four rounds of disengagement from Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Gogra (PP-17A) and Hot Springs (PP-15), the Indian and Chinese armies still have more than 60,000 troops each and advanced weaponry deployed in the Ladakh theatre.