In order to ensure greater interaction between troops stationed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India and China held their first joint tactical exercise (JET) codenamed “Sino-India Cooperation 2016”in the Chushul-Moldo, Jammu and Kashmir.
- This was the part of ongoing initiatives taken by India and China to ensure peace and tranquillity along the border.
- The Indian Army team of 30 personnel was led by Col. Ritesh Chandra Singh while the Chinese delegation was led by Col. Qu Yi.
- The exercise focused to jointly tackle aspects of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief.
This exercise was the part of Hand-in-Hand series of India-China Joint Exercises and complemented the recently conducted joint exercise in Sikkim.
Background
Few years ago, India and China has inked a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, to eliminate the possibility of any sudden military conflagration along the LAC as both nations have different perceptions of the LAC demarcation that they never mutually agreed upon.
- Under this agreement, the border patrols of the two sides were not to tail each other when they come face-to-face while patrolling the LAC.
The bilateral interaction between the two nation’s armies is a very positive step in enhancing confidence and building relations between the two armies.
About Line of Actual Control:
4,057 km long LAC is the effective border between India and China. It traverses 5 northern Indian states: Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
