India-China standoff live updates: Army chief briefs Rajnath on eastern Ladakh situation

A group of Indian-Americans has organised a peaceful demonstration in front of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago, protesting against Beijing's incursions in eastern Ladakh. The protest was limited to a small group of people due to the restrictions on gathering and other measures implemented by the city of Chicago in view of the coronavirus pandemic. “Our protest was against the Chinese incursions on Indian territory in Leh. We want to tell China that Indian-Americans will not keep quiet. Today the entire world is with India,” Dr Bharat Barai, an eminent Indian-American from Chicago, said on Thursday. “There is a massive resentment against Chinese aggression among Indian-Americans,” he said. Protestors carried placards denouncing China for its aggression against India and other neighboring countries. Read full report

The Centre is moving to slap up to 40% customs duty on solar equipment and a combination of penal tariffs and mandatory local testing for conventional power gears to discourage imports from China, power minister R K Singh said on Thursday. “It has been proposed that a basic customs duty of up to 25% is imposed on solar modules in the first year. It goes up to 40% in the second year and so on. For solar cells, the duty would be 15% this year and 30-40% from the next financial year,” Singh said. Read more

India warned China on Thursday that failure to implement the disengagement understanding on the LAC in eastern Ladakh would have consequences as a continuation of the current situation would have a negative impact on development of the bilateral relationship. In a lengthy statement, the ministry of external affairs clearly indicated that the ground situation along the LAC could not linger on indefinitely and said, "We expect the Chinese side to sincerely follow up on this understanding and ensure expeditious restoration of peace and tranquillity in border areas. A continuation of the current situation would only vitiate the atmosphere for development of the relationship." Read more

China on Wednesday attempted to pacify the aggrieved families of the Chinese soldiers killed in clashes with Indian troops along the LAC, without any official recognition from Beijing. Hu Xijin, editor of Global Times, the Chinese Communist Party regime’s mouthpiece, wrote that “the dead have been treated with the highest respect in the military, and that information will eventually be reported to society at the right time, so that heroes can be honored and remembered as they deserve”.

Fearing a backlash, Xiaomi has started covering up signages at its retail stores in the country, the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) said on Thursday. The action came after AIMRA sent a letter to all Chinese mobile brands including Oppo, Vivo and others to bring the “ground reality” to their notice. Xiaomi declined to officially comment on the development. In its letter, AIMRA requested the brands to “allow retailers to cover these signages with cloth/flex or to remove the boards from the storefront for a few months”.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that there was nothing wrong in imports to spur growth but wondered why even Ganesha idols should be bought from China. Importing raw materials that were not available in the country and needed for our industries was not wrong, she said addressing BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit workers via a virtual link. “There is nothing wrong in imports that would spur production and create job opportunities and it can be done definitely,” she said while speaking on the Centre’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan initiative. Read more

People’s Liberation Army troops in the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have also been recently observed carrying iron rods in their backpacks, reaffirming the Indian defence establishment’s belief that Chinese soldiers flout protocols on a regular basis but take shelter behind them if they get hurt. Sources said iron rods were seen in the backpacks of PLA troops when they came face-to-face with Indian soldiers along the LAC in the Kameng sector of Arunachal Pradesh earlier this week. “PLA soldiers come prepared, and routinely break the protocol that there will be no use of force during face-offs. But when they get hurt in the ensuing scuffles, they wrongly accuse Indian soldiers of breaking the protocol,” said a source.

The Centre is moving to slap up to 40% customs duty on solar equipment and a combination of penal tariffs and mandatory local testing for conventional power gears to discourage imports from China, power minister R K Singh said on Thursday. “It has been proposed that a basic customs duty of up to 25% is imposed on solar modules in the first year. It goes up to 40% in the second year and so on. For solar cells, the duty would be 15% this year and 30-40% from the next financial year,” Singh said. Read more

As the Indian and Chinese armies begin the process of disengagement in Galwan Valley, closely monitored with huge distrust marking the process, there are many theories about why China violated agreements and basically trashed a bilateral relationship with India. The disengagement may happen, but the problem will not go away. The Chinese will be back, because they are pushing more than a boundary claim with India. They are trying to secure a key route of communication and trade, the flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. Read more

In a lengthy statement, the ministry of external affairs clearly indicated that the ground situation along the LAC could not linger on indefinitely and said, "We expect the Chinese side to sincerely follow up on this understanding and ensure expeditious restoration of peace and tranquillity in border areas. A continuation of the current situation would only vitiate the atmosphere for development of the relationship." Read full story

The decision to draw down troops in Germany was part of a well-thought out strategy because they were being moved to other places, Pompeo told the Brussels Forum. US President Donald Trump recently announced that the US would be reducing troops from Germany, a decision that’s angered EU countries. Read full story

Amid heightened border tensions with China, Indian customs officials have started physical inspection of all consignments coming from the neighbouring country based on intelligence inputs. Although there is no formal order, but Indian customs authority is inspecting consignments originating from China that arrive at any airport or port, government sources with direct knowledge of the development said. Authorities are checking documents, goods and valuation, they said.