By Kaveesha Fernando
NEW DELHI, India (CWBN)_ Chinese media is said to have reported late last week that Chinese President Xi Jinping has replaced General Zhao Zongqi with General Zhang Xudong at the People’s Liberation Army’s Western Theatre Command.
The command oversees the Indian border with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). General Zongqi is largely seen at the man responsible for the seven-month-long military standoff with India in eastern Ladakh, according to Indian media reports.
It appears that not much is known about General Zongqi, especially with regards to his affiliation with the Western Theatre Command; he has reportedly never served there.
Indian media reports that an Indian military commander has stated that the tone and demeanour of the new commander during the next military commanders’ meeting would throw some light on the complex undercurrents in the PLA. The Indian army official in question has made these comments under the condition of anonymity.
The rising hostilities between India and China have been a sharp reversal of the peace plan they agreed on just months ago. No ammunition is used in the region due to a decades-old agreement between the two nations, although China is reported to have been using weapons such as nail-studded rods earlier this year in a deadly attack which left 20 Indian soldiers dead; the first casualties in around 45 years at the border.
The confrontation has led to the two nations dragging other countries into the fight, especially immediate neighbours such as Bhutan and Nepal. Both nations have also been attempting to increase their influence in other nations through diplomatic means.
