Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday exhorted the Indo-Tibetan Border Police troops deployed along the Indo-China border to learn Mandarin to ensure better communication with the Chinese counterparts so as to avoid misunderstandings during face offs.

“Considering the frequent face-offs and skirmishes with the Chinese soldiers, we have started teaching elementary Chinese language to ITBP troops as part of their basic training. I ask all of you to learn Mandarin to ensure better communication skills and avoid misunderstandings leading to flashpoints,” the Minister said while addressing the men and officers at the ITBP’s 56th raising day celebrations in Greater Noida.

On Independence Day this year, both Indian and Chinese troops had exchanged blows and later hurled stones at each other near the Pangong Lake in Ladakh. The incident happened at a time when the Indo-China relations were tensed due to the row over Doklam.

Officers enrolled themselves in JNU and some language schools in Delhi to learn Chinese. These officers are now being sent to teach Mandarin to the troops deployed at the border.

The security agencies have identified over 14 spots along the border in Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) and Uttarakhand where most of the face offs happen.

The Home Minister said that a ‘model BoP’ is being made at Ladakh with the purpose to maintain a uniform 20 degree Celsius temperature inside the Border Outpost. After this, the model BoPs will be replicated in other parts also, he added.

He also said that the soldiers posted above the height of 11,000 feet are provided with Light Weight Special Clothing. Similar clothing will now be also provided those posted at locations above 9000 feet.

“Recently, we have got a proposal to build 50 new border outposts for the force and we are working on it. We are also working to enhance road, mobile and satellite connectivity in the border areas for the ITBP,” the minister said while referring to the measures being considered to improve infrastructure and communication along the eastern frontier.

Presently, there are 176 border outposts along the border with China.

The ITBP guards the 3,488 km frontier with China along Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. A large part of the border is disputed and transgressions keep happening due to differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).