PM Narendra Modi Meets NSA, Chief Of Defence Staff Over India-China Face-Off In Ladakh

PM Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting to discuss the ongoing stand-off with China. Reportedly, the three service chiefs, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat were part of the meeting. A separate meeting was held earlier with the foreign secretary. Reportedly, prior to the meeting with PM Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had met three service chiefs and briefed them. Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 26 ordered the military to scale up the battle preparedness. Reportedly, Xi ordered the military to think about worst-case scenarios, scale up training and battle preparedness, promptly and effectively deal with all sorts of complex situations and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. The face-off between China and India started after China reportedly expressed displeasure about the construction of a road and bridge in the Galwan area by India. Tensions were raked up earlier this month, after nearly 250 troopers of either side came face-to-face Pangong Tso lake area in Ladakh. A face-off was also reported near Naku La Pass in the Sikkim sector on May 9, when nearly 150 soldiers of either side were involved in a clash. On May 25, a notice in Mandarin was put up on the website of the Chinese embassy, asking Chinese nationals living in India who wanted to return home to book tickets in special flights at their own expense. The US has said border disputes with China are a reminder of the threat pose by the Asian nation. The fresh India-China face-off comes nearly two years after the soldiers of both sides were involved in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam - a trijuncture point of India, Bhutan and China