Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrives in Ladakh amid India-China disengagement exercise along LAC

Yoviews July 17, 2020

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After Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visits Ladakh. The Minister arrived in Ladakh on Friday, July 17 to take stock of India’s military readiness along Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control (LOC).

Just like PM Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh is also accompanied by Army Chief MM Naravane and the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat. The Defence Minister is also expected to visit forward areas in Kashmir and interact with field commanders.

Informing about his visit to Ladakh on Twitter, Rajnath said, “Leaving for Leh on a two-day visit to Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir. I shall be visiting the forward areas to review the situation at the borders and also interact with the Armed Forces personnel deployed in the region. Looking forward to it.”

Leaving for Leh on a two day visit to Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir. I shall be visiting the forward areas to review the situation at the borders and also interact with the Armed Forces personnel deployed in the region. Looking forward to it.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 17, 2020

This visit by the Defence Minister is being considered significant in the wake of the ongoing disengagement exercise at the friction points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. While both India and China first agreed to completely disengage the friction points, China now refuses to leave the points completely. This visit by the Defence Minister would give a clear message to China.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also warned China to refrain from activities in the South China Sea. The MEA said that the South China sea is part of global commons and India has an abiding interest in peace and stability in the region. Clearly, India is firmly playing its diplomatic as well as military cards to check China’s expansionism in the region.