Amid Border Face-off, India & China To Participate In Military Exercise

New Delhi: In the backdrop of the ongoing border tension, both India and China will take part in a military exercise hosted by Russia.

Apart from India, Belarus, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Tajikistan and other countries besides China will also take part in the military exercise.

"The aim is to deepen practical and friendly cooperation with the armies of participating countries, enhance the level of strategic collaboration among the participating parties, and strengthen the ability to respond to various security threats," the Chinese defence ministry said in a statement.

''The exercise has no relation to the current international and regional situation,'' it added.

Notably, there has been a standoff along the eastern Ladakh border since the violent clash between soldiers of India and China on 5 May 2020 in the Pangong Lake area.

However, there is no official confirmation from the Indian Army or the Defence Ministry on the participation of Indian troops in the Vostok-2022 military exercise in Russia.

Last year, India participated in the ZAPAD 2021 exercise in Russia, in which 17 countries, including China and Pakistan, also participated.

As per Russia's state news agency TASS, the Vostok-2022 exercise will be held from August 30 to September 5.

TASS further claimed that the Vostok-2022 tactical command and staff exercise will be under the command of the Chief of the General Staff of Russia Valery Gerasimov.

The Russian Defence Ministry had earlier said that the forces participating in the exercise would practice measures to maintain military security in the eastern region.

Meanwhile, amidst controversy and a diplomatic tussle between India and China, Sri Lanka on Saturday announced that it has allowed the controversial Chinese vessel 'Yuan Wang 5' to dock at the island's southern-most port, the Chinese-run Hambantota.

The Foreign Ministry announced that it has given permission for the vessel to be docked at the port on August 16.

Described as a research and survey vessel, but alleged to be a spy ship, the Chinese vessel was originally planned to reach Hambantota on August 11 but its arrival was deferred following Sri Lanka's request to postpone the arrival indefinitely.

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