Kibithu, which is India’s eastern most inhabited area, was the site of an intense battle fought between the two armies during the 1962 war. The Battle of Walong (about 25 kms from Kibithu) saw about 4,000 Chinese troop casualties and close to 400 

WACHA (LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL): Days before Chinese President Xi Jinping visits India, border delegations of the Indian Army and Chinese Army toasted to the Wuhan summit’s ‘positive effect’ on ground formations at Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh and hoped the same would continue following the upcoming second informal meeting between Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram.

Kibithu, which is India’s eastern most inhabited area, was the site of an intense battle fought between the two armies during the 1962 India-China war. The Battle of Walong (Walong is about 25 km from Kibithu) fought here and in other nearby areas witnessed about 4,000 Chinese troop casualties and close to 400 on the Indian side.

More than five decades later, peace prevails in this region and along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China, located about 8 km north of Kibithu. Officials ET spoke with explained that there has not been any untoward incident such as a face-off over the last one and a half years, as compared to other contentious areas along the LAC such as Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh where a scuffle broke out between troops from both sides last month. The current situation prevails amid there being a potential trouble spot, Dichu, in the sector.

Explaining that the LAC in Kibithu has been peaceful, Brigadier Sajeev Katarya, who heads the 82 Mountain Brigade said, “There has not been any incident of face-offs and transgressions here during the past one and a half years.”

Katarya led a delegation of about 70 persons, including army personnel and some of their wives and children, to attend a ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) to celebrate China’s 70th National Day, hosted by the Chinese army at Damai, which is located on their side of the LAC, on Tuesday. BPMs that are organised by the Indian side on days such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Diwali, are held at Wacha, which falls in the Kibithu sector and is about two to three km long walk from Damai. Wacha, which is located in a forested area at an altitude of about 5,000 feet along the Lohit river, is about eight km from Kibithu and is reachable by a rocky and rough motorable road. The Kibithu-Damai BPM place was established in October 2014, making it the newest among the other BPM points.

On Tuesday morning, the Indian delegation left Wacha for Damai via a foot track. About 250 metres short of Damai, they were greeted by Chinese troops at a tent setup on the Chinese side of the LAC with refreshments. The delegation was later taken to Damai, where the national anthems of both countries were played. Eight main members from both sides, including Katarya, later went to a separate enclosure to hold discussions.

“The Chinese side spoke about the Wuhan summit guidance in their address and added that they want to avoid friction and tense situations. Their delegation leader spoke on the need to maintain ground relations. The Wuhan summit has had a positive effect on the border formations and the second summit will have the same effect again,” Katarya told ET.

“We told them that from 2018 to now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met almost 10 times and this does have an impact at the ground level,” he added.

The Wuhan summit, which took place in April last year, gave ‘strategic guidance’ to the militaries on both sides to strengthen communication to build trust and maintain peace at the border. “Border guarding troops of both countries will continue to fulfil the shared responsibility bestowed upon us for maintenance of peace and tranquillity as per strategic guidance given by the national leaders of both the nations,” Katarya said in a statement.

Local issues were also raised during the BPM. The Chinese side asked the Indian side to prevent villagers from crossing the LAC to fish and bring back their cattle.

The highlight of the event was Moutai, a Chinese liquor with 53 percent alcohol. Though distasteful, it was a main contributing factor towards building friendship between both sides. “Toasts were raised towards improving the relationship between the two countries. It even happened at personal levels such as the prospect of a promotion and even to ‘may your wife be more beautiful’,” an official said, adding that the Chinese are good hosts.

Gifts based on one’s heritage were also given by both sides and cultural programs presented by the Chinese. Apart from such BPMs, both sides also meet at the battalion commander level about 10 times a year at Wacha. This effort to improve ‘bonhomie’ comes in the backdrop of India ramping up infrastructure through better roads, communication and weapons for guarding the LAC.