India-China skirmishes: Narendra Modi on a surprise visit to Ladakh

Text by: RFI Follow

The Indian Prime Minister paid a surprise visit this Friday to Indian troops stationed in Ladakh, in the Himalayas, a few kilometers from the disputed border with China. This is where the most serious confrontation between the two armies took place in half a century, last June 15.

Publicity

With our correspondent in India , Sébastien Farcis

Narendra Modi abandoned the pastel Indian tunic for the khaki coat and the cap of the army chief. The Prime Minister came to Ladakh, at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, to boost the morale of the troops posted on the most explosive front at present. And indicate to all Indians that he will not abandon the lands claimed by Beijing, despite the numerous incursions of the Chinese army into its territory.

Narendra Modi thus sent clear messages to Beijing: “  We no longer live in the era of expansionism. The forces that believed in this ideology have been destroyed or forced to change. Today we live in the era of development. India believes in this. We believe in the virtues of peace and friendship. But you shouldn't take this for a weakness. We will offer a clear answer to any power that disrupts this peace. "

The situation remains very tense along this Himalayan border . This is despite the two meetings between high-ranking soldiers which have taken place in the past two weeks.

Each camp has deployed an additional 20,000 troops to the region, as well as tanks and other combat vehicles. This shows that the tension should not drop for several months between the two nuclear powers.

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• India
• China
• Defense
• Narendra Damodardas Modi