Chinese Military Delegation Visits India for the First Time Since Doklam Standoff

A ten-member Chinese delegation visited Indian Army, Eastern Command Headquarter in Kolkata recently. The Chinese delegation was led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu, who is the Deputy Commander of Western Theatre Command of People’s Liberation Army. Before arriving in Kolkata, the team has also visited New Delhi, Agra, and Sukhna.

The high level delegation comprises of ten senior military officials from China who visited Headquarters Eastern Command at Fort William in Kolkata. During their Eastern Command Headquarter visit, they interacted with Lt Gen Sunil Srivastava, Chief of Staff, Eastern Command, and other officers. The delegation was conducted around in Fort William and was later taken on a visit to Victoria Memorial before their departure from Kolkata.

The Chinese military delegation also visited the military headquarters at Sukhna in North Bengal and is believed to be a significant step from the Doklam point of view. As such interactions at the military commander’s level would help in enhancing the implementation of various agreements between the two countries to maintain peace and tranquility alongside the Indo-China borders.

In Sukhna, a cultural program showcasing Indian traditional dances and a banquet is organized in the honor of the visiting delegation, which was followed by the delegation level talks. The People’s Liberation Army delegation then came to Kolkata to visit Head of Army’s Eastern Command. Before arriving at Sukhna, the delegation has also visited Delhi and Agra.

Here it is important to note that Sukhna is near Siliguri in North Bengal and is a part of the chicken's neck area, which connects the Northeast to the eastern states and was significant during the Doklam standoff. Indian Army’s 33 Corps Headquarters is also at Sukhna and the 33 Corps guards the Doklam area at the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction, where the two countries were involved in a 73 days military standoff last year.

The standoff started when the Indian side had stopped Chinese troops from constructing a road in the disputed area of Doklam. The faceoff between the two countries ended on August 28, 2017. The newly formed Western Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army guards the 3,488 Kilometer long Line of Actual Control with India.

The recent visit by the Chinese military delegation to India is in continuance with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping's belief during the Wuhan summit in May this year for the urgent need to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

Thus the visit is seen as a positive step towards enhancing the bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries which will help in maintaining peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control.