In a major relief to peaceniks, the three-week face-off between India and China has ended. By Sunday evening, the Chinese troops have started withdrawing from their newly erected tents on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which India claimed was 19 kms inside Indian territory.
The move comes as a result of a flurry of diplomatic activity and behind-the-scenes strategic maneuvering at the highest levels of government on both sides.
India had made it amply clear that Indian foreign minister Salman Khurshid’s proposed trip to China on May 9 might be called off if the Chinese troops stayed put at the disputed positions. The Chinese move is understood to be in response to the stern stand taken by the Indian side.
Now that the situation has de-escalated, the Indian foreign minister’s trip will go on as scheduled and the stage may be set for the proposed visit of Chinese premier Li Keqiang to India later this month.
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