Ready to arbitrate raging border dispute: Trump offers to mediate between India, China on Ladakh standoff. "We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute, he said in a tweet

Washington: US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, offered to mediate between India and China to de-escalate simmering border tension between the two stating that his country is "willing to arbitrate their raging dispute".

"We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute," he said in a tweet.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level security meet to discus ongoing border dispute with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs were present at the top-level meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Delhi. The military leadership reportedly briefed the Prime Minister about the evolving situation in Eastern Ladakh.

Last week, Army Chief General MM Naravane visited the headquarters of 14 Corps in Leh amid the escalating tension between Indian and Chinese troops and reviewed the overall security scenario in the region including in the disputed areas along the LAC, the de-facto border between India and China.

Earlier today, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the situation at the border is "overall stable and controllable", adding that his country has maintained a clear and consistent position on border-related matters. He further asserted that both countries have proper mechanisms and communication channels in place to resolve disputes through dialogue and proper consultation.
Ladakh face-off

Tension between India and China erupted on May 5 when around 200 army personnel from India and China clashed along northern bank of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh. The face-off ended next morning following a dialogue between the two sides, PTI reported, citing official sources.

Several soldiers on both the sides suffered minor injuries during the clashes. Following the fracas, both sides rushed additional troops at border. It was the first time that troops from both sides exchanged blows since the 2017 Doklam stand-off.
Sikkim clashes

Days after Ladakh clashes, scores of Indian and Chinese military personnel were involved in a face-off near Naku La Pass in the Sikkim sector of the Sino-India border on May 9. Around 150 soldiers were engaged in the clashes in which at least 10 sustained injuries, the sources said.

“Temporary and short duration face-offs between border guarding troops do occur as boundaries are not resolved...Aggressive behaviour by the two sides resulted in minor injuries to troops," said an Army official.

Amid border tension, China is reportedly enhancing its military presence in Ladakh by deploying additional troops in areas around Pangong Tso lake and Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control, apparently indicating that it was not ready to end its simmering tension with the Indian Army anytime soon.

The Indian Army is also reported to be bolstering its presence to match up to the Chinese build-up in both Pangong Tso lake and Galwan Valley and to deter the Chinese troops from carrying out any further transgressions.