Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe in Moscow amid border standoff in eastern Ladakh

Defence minister Rajnath Singh met Wei Fenghe, his Chinese counterpart on Friday, September 4 as border standoff climbed higher with China in eastern Ladakh.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. It was the first meeting between the Indian and Chinese defence ministers after the border standoff on the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh since May. The meeting was requested by Chinese defence minister.

The core point of the bilateral talks between the two defence ministers was to resolve the prolonged border standoff from early May.

“The meeting between Shri Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Chinese Defence Minister, General Wei Fenghe in Moscow is over. The meeting lasted for 2 hours and 20 minutes,” tweeted Defence Ministry of India.

It is to be noted that in the early May External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held telephonic talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to resolve the standoff.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow on September 10.

The Indian army has also sent additional forces to secure position along the north bank of the Pangong Tso lake to tackle Chinese troops.