India and China have decided to deepen bilateral defence ties and maintain peace and tranquillity at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) besides strengthening cooperation against terror, including at the international level. The decisions came after the meeting between a visiting 26 -member delegation led by General Fan Changlong, Vice-Chairman of China’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) and the Indian side, which was headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, at South Block here. This is the highest-level Chinese defence delegation to visit India in recent years.

Gen. Fan and Parrikar were of the view that peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas is the cornerstone for smooth development of bilateral relations in diverse areas. Gen. Fan also extended an invitation to Parrikar to visit China, which he accepted. The dates will be decided through diplomatic channels.

Tidbits…

• The LAC is a demarcation line that separates Indian-held lands from Chinese-controlled territory.

• The entire China-Indian border, also known as Sino-Indian border, is 4,056 km long and traverses five Indian states: Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh

• The LAC was accepted officially in 1993 in a bilateral agreement between the two countries. Until then since 1962, the demarcation existed as the informal cease-fire line between India and China.

• The term ‘LAC’ gained legal recognition in Sino-Indian agreements signed in 1993 and 1996.

Try This…

The Hindenburg Line is between Germany and _______.