THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER:

Despite a fierce and bloody confrontation, a year and half ago and continued standoff till date the Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets and greetings at border posts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Nathula and other sectors to mark New Year 2022, reports said. This gesture came amid an over 18 month- long standoff between the two sides in several friction points in eastern Ladakh and in Eastern Himalayas. The soldiers also exchanged gifts during the occasion together.

The eastern Ladakh border standoff between India and China had started on 5 May 2020 following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas. Army officers of both sides are seen wearing PPE Kits, following other COVID protocols, as they interact with each other. Both the Indian and Chinese sides maintained social distancing during the friendly gesture.

Meanwhile, despite lingering border tension, the India-China bilateral trade touched a record high of over USD 125 billion in 2021, crossing the USD 100 billion-mark in a year when the relations hit a new low due to the prolonged standoff by the militaries in eastern Ladakh, according to PTI report from Beijing. But the landmark increase of the bilateral trade crossing USD 100 billion went without much fanfare as the relations remained frosty. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the mountainous sector.

China’s exports to India from January to December rose 46.2 percent to USD 97.52 billion, while India’s exports to China grew by 34.2 percent to USD 28.14 billion. The trade deficit for India grew to USD 69.38 billion in 2021. India has been highlighting its concerns over the growing trade deficit with China for over a decade and calling on Beijing to open its markets for India’s IT and pharmaceutical products.

Observers say much of China’s exports increase this year to India was attributed to the import of medical products and raw materials for India’s burgeoning pharmaceutical industry due to the massive second wave of COVID-19 and recurring bouts of the virus in the country.

Source: Himalayan News Chronicle