India, China to complete disengagement at PP15 in Gogra-Hot Springs

Indian and Chinese troops have now declared to complete the disengagement process from patrolling point-15 (PP15) at the Gogra-Hot Springs area in eastern Ladakh near LAC by this month.

• The sixteenth round of talks between the Commanders of India and China was held at Chushul Moldo Meeting Point on 17 July, 2022.
• Since then, the two sides had maintained regular contact to build on the progress to resolve the relevant issues along the LAC.
• Both sides have now agreed on disengagement in the area of Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15) and the disengagement process in this area has been started.

India-China Conflict near LAC

• China claims about 90,000 sq. km of India’s territory in the northeast, including Arunachal, while India says 38,000 sq km of land in China-occupied Aksai Chin should be a part of Ladakh.
• There are several disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including in Himachal, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
• Patrolling Point 15 (PP15) in Hot Springs and PP17A near Gogra Post were among the four friction points between India and China.
• The other two being PP14 in Galwan Valley and the north bank of Pangong Tso.
  
  
• In Ladakh, the disputed areas include:
• Pangong Tso lake
• Galwan Valley, where Shyok and Galwan rivers meet
• Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), a key northern region close to the Karakoram Pass.
• The Hot Springs-Gogra area of the LAC
• Demchok which is close to the southernmost part of the LAC in Ladakh.
• Chushul, located on the southern bank of Pangong Tso Lake, has an airstrip and is near Rezang La pass on the LAC.
• Spanggur Gap along the LAC has roads leading to it from either side. India’s Chushul-Demchok road in the area is a critical communication link.
• Samar Lungpa
• Trig Heights
• Chumar
• Dumchele
• Kongka La

Other Regional conflicts with China

Significance of the Disengagement

• The regions, PP15 and PP17A, are located in an area where India and China largely agree on the LAC alignment.
• The disengagement in the Hotsprings-Gogra region will de-escalate the border tension.