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BIG STORY DECEMBER 09, 2022 | The Indian Eye 4

INDIA-US MILITARY EXERCISE

EYE on CHINA?

Beijing reacts angrily and New Delhi rebuffs as India and the US conduct a 15-day
exercise in the Himalayas with focus on high-altitude warfare. How will this exercise

help both the countries to counter China’s influence in Asia?

OUR BUREAU
Auli (Uttarakhand)/New Delhi/Beijing

he armies of India and US are
training together in the Hi-
Tmalayas. And China is getting
angry about it, even using threatening
language. The 18th edition of the In-
do-US joint training exercise “Yudh
Abhyas 22” commenced in Uttara-
khand’s Auli recently. The reaction
from Beijing has been very strong.
Beginning in May 2020, PRC
and Indian forces faced off in clash-
es with rocks, batons, and clubs
wrapped in barbed wire at multiple
locations along the LAC.
The PRC blamed the standoff on
Indian infrastructure construction,
which it perceived as encroaching on
PRC territory, while India accused
China of launching aggressive incur-
sions into India’s territory.
Since the 2020 clash, the PLA
has maintained a continuous force
presence and continued infrastruc-
ture build-up along the LAC, added
the report.
The 2020 Galwan Valley inci-
dent was the deadliest clash between Captain Cerruti, Lieutenant Russell, Lieutenant Brown and Lieutenant Hack became the first four US Army Officers to be promoted in the Hima-
the two nations in the past 46 years. layas during the Yudh Abhyas Exercise near Nanda Devi (ANI)
On June 15th, 2020, patrols violently
clashed in Galwan Valley resulting Control (LAC) violated the spirit of 18th Edition of India-US Joint Exer- Chapter VII of the UN Mandate.
in about 20 Indian soldiers and the relevant agreements signed by China cise Yudh Abhyas commenced today “The schedule will include all
death of at least four PLA soldiers, and India in 1993 and 1996, and does at Foreign Training Node, Auli. The operations related to peacekeeping
according to PRC officials. not help build bilateral trust. China aim of Joint Exercise is to enhance and peace enforcement. The troops
China on Wednesday said that has expressed concerns to the Indian interoperability and share expertise from both nations will work together
the joint military exercise held by side over the military exercise.” between both the Armies in Peace to achieve common objectives. The
India and the US near the Line of Exercise Yudh Abhyas is con- Keeping and Disaster Relief Opera- joint exercise will also focus on Hu-
Actual Control (LAC) violated the ducted annually between India and tions,” Indian Army said in a tweet. manitarian Assistance and Disaster
spirit of relevant agreements signed US with the aim of exchanging best US Army soldiers of the 2nd Bri- Relief (HADR) operations. Troops
by China and India. practices, Tactics, Techniques and gade of the 11th Airborne Division from both nations will practice
Speaking at a regular press con- Procedures between the Armies of and Indian Army soldiers from the launching of swift & coordinated re-
ference, China’s Foreign Ministry the two nations. The previous edi- ASSAM Regiment will be partici- lief efforts in the wake of any natural
spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, “The tion of the exercise was conducted at pating in the exercise. The training calamity,” the Defense Ministry said
joint military exercise held by India Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, schedule focuses on the employment in an earlier press release.
and the US near the Line of Actual Alaska (US) in October 2021. “The of an integrated battle group under Continued at next page... >>

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