Gone are the days of Chinese's People Liberation Army troops getting a chance to use barbaric weapons at borders with India. There would not be any more scuffles, pushing or jostling between Indian and Chinese troops. Firing in the air to stop each other from intimidating their opponents stationed at at Line of Actual Control (LAC) is now the new normal in Eastern Ladakh. This happened after the rules of engagement with China changed following the death of 20 Indian soldiers at Galwan Valley on June 15.

Top government sources told IANS that there have been three incidents of firing in air at the LAC in Eastern Ladakh amid heightened tensions between Indian and Chinese troops. Early September in the north bank side of Pangong Lake, when Indian troops moved towards the western side of Finger 3, the Chinese army made provocative military movements to occupy the area between Finger 3 and 4. This led to firing of around 200 shots in the air when the troops of both the countries came a few hundred metres away. In military parlance Fingers are mountain spurs jutting in the lake.