New Delhi: Two-and-a-half months after the violent clash at Galwan Valley, India and China are facing off at a new area on the border, after Chinese troops intruded into the southern bank of Pangong Tso on Saturday night.
The Indian Army issued a statement on Monday morning that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army “carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo” on the night of August 29-30.
“Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity on the southern Bank of Pangong Tso Lake, undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on ground,” said the statement.
Though the statement did not say so, the Indian Army is believed to have rushed some 800 soldiers to Chushul, just south of the lake.
The “provocative actions” were in violation of the “previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh”, the official release stated tersely, providing no further details. A brigade commander level flag meeting is in progress at Chushul to resolve the issues, the Indian Army said.
“The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility through dialogue, but is also equally determined to protect its territorial integrity,” it added.
The initial Chinese response had been muted, but then the statement from the PLA made it crystal clear that there was no intention to give ground.
“Indian troops have violated the consensus reached at the multi-level talks between India and China and again crossed the line of actual control at the border on Monday and purposely launched provocations,” said Senior Colonel Zhang Shuili of the PLA Western Theater Command on Monday evening.
Asserting that it was “counterproductive and treacherous”, the Chinese military spokesperson said that India’s actions “seriously violates China’s territorial sovereignty” and “undermines peace and stability in the border area”.Mirroring the Indian statement, China accused Indian troops of having crossed the LAC.
“China strongly opposes the acts and urges India to immediately withdraw the troops that have illegally crossed the LAC,” he said.The Chinese statement was different from the India in one important aspect – the timing of the incident.
While the Indian army said that Chinese soldiers had attempted to transgress on the night of August 29-30, the PLA officer stated India had crossed the LAC on August 31. It is not clear if the two sides are talking of the same incident, or two different events.
Earlier in the day in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson denied that the China had moved beyond its section of the LAC. “China’s border guards have always strictly abided by the actual line of control and have never crossed the line. The border forces of the two countries have been maintaining communication on the issue of the present,” said spokesperson Zhao Lijian.
As per Indian government sources quoted by PTI, a “sizeable” number of Chinese troops were moving towards the southern bank in an attempt to occupy the area. Sources added that there had been “no physical skirmishes”. While the Chinese were sent back to an extent, they continue to be in the vicinity.
Interestingly, Thakung, which lies firmly on the Indian side of the LAC, is within the China’s 1960 claim line. This suggests the PLA may be working to a plan on the south bank of Pangong Tso of pushing the LAC westward. On the north bank, however, the PLA has moved beyond even its traditional claim line.
The Indian Army and Chinese troops have been involved in multiple clashes since early May in eastern Ladakh, after Indian soldiers detected Chinese intrusion far beyond the usual patrolling points on the Line of Actual Control.
The most serious clash took place on June 15 at Galwan Valley, when a violent hand-to-hand fight led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China has admitted casualties on their side, but not revealed any numbers. These were the first military casualties along the India-China border in four decades.
Consequently, there have been high-level phone calls at the foreign minister and national security advisor level, which led to multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks for disengagement of troops along the border.
So far, there has been five rounds of talks between military commanders and four rounds of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.
During the current stand-off, the first clash was recorded at Galwan valley on night of May 5-6.The next stand-off took place at the north bank of Pangong Tso lake on May 10-11, near Finger 4, one of the mountainous spurs that jut out into the lake.
China had constructed a metalled road upto ‘Finger 4’ and set up defensive positions. Indian troops used to earlier regularly patrol till ‘finger 8’, but are now limited to ‘finger 4’ due to the new Chinese intrusion into the area.India asserts that the Line of Actual Control passes through ‘Finger 8’, while China’s claim line is based at ‘Finger 2’.
Trump ally Lindsey Graham warns UK, Cana…
23-11-2024
UK's potential assistance in arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under an ICC warrant has drawn ire from US Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham threatens severe economic sanctions against any nation...
Read moreMeghan Markle's half-sister says what sh…
23-11-2024
"I knew my dad had suffered but I thought she would stop at the Queen," Samantha said in an interview with DailyMail. Samantha said she used to consider Prince Harry...
Read moreJoe Rogan is ready to do this if Elon Mu…
23-11-2024
Elon Musk engaged in a humorous exchange with Joe Rogan on X, entertaining the idea of purchasing MSNBC. Rogan jokingly expressed interest in taking over Rachel Maddow's role, prompting a...
Read moreKanye West sued for sexually assaulting…
23-11-2024
On camera, Kanye West began to choke her with one hand and then "wrapped his other hand around her neck and continued to strangle her with both hands". West smothered...
Read moreBritish teen Marcus Fakana held for sex …
23-11-2024
An 18-year-old British tourist, Marcus Fakana, is facing potential jail time in Dubai for engaging in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Although the girl has since turned 18, their...
Read moreElon Musk was a flaming Democrat, says f…
23-11-2024
Elon was a raging Democrat but now he is embracing his heritage and his destiny, his father said. "When you come from South Africa, Lefties think you're a Nazi. To...
Read moreElon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy know many fed…
23-11-2024
In their joint opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy explained how their Department of Government Efficiency will work and wrap up the work by...
Read morePam Bondi says there is 'no legal basis…
23-11-2024
Former Florida attorney general and Trump's nominee for US attorney General, Pam Bondi, has sparked controversy by advocating for the release of names from the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Bondi...
Read moreRepublican senators eager to see Tulsi G…
23-11-2024
Checking FBI files is a norm for all Cabinet nominees but for Tulsi Gabbard, the senators want to look if some previously unknown information, including possible foreign contacts, come out...
Read moreMSNBC's Joy Reid says Trump govt would s…
23-11-2024
Joy Reid's on-air statement came as she issued a TikTok warning to Republican voters saying that their liberal friends may not welcome them on Thanksgiving because they are rightfully scared...
Read moreWhy Elon Musk's ex-girlfriend Grimes say…
23-11-2024
Grimes shared her struggle in detaching from Musk, whom she once described as the love of her life. She highlighted how his shift towards conservative political ideologies, including his contentious...
Read moreDonald Trump's phone call to Matt Gaetz:…
23-11-2024
The real reason why Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general was a call from Donald Trump hours before Gaetz announced his decision. Despite lobbying efforts by Gaetz, Trump...
Read moreHow Elon Musk added 70 billion dollars t…
23-11-2024
He might as well have been speaking about his new BFF and the nation’s first buddy Elon Musk who just can’t stop winning since Donald Trump came back to power...
Read moreElon Musk reveals what he thinks about E…
23-11-2024
Despite Donald Trump's alleged link to sex offender Epstein which the President-elect brushed aside, Donald Trump said he would be inclined to release all Epstein documents. Now the Republicans are...
Read morePutin: Russia may use new missile again …
22-11-2024
Following Ukraine's use of US and UK-supplied missiles on Russian territory, Putin announced the successful test of a new missile, the Oreshnik, which was used to strike Dnipro. Putin...
Read moreTrump nominates hedge fund chief Scott B…
22-11-2024
Donald Trump has chosen Scott Bessent, a seasoned hedge fund manager, to lead the US Treasury in his second term. Bessent, known for his advocacy of Trump's economic policies, will...
Read moreDaniel Penny opts not to testify as his …
22-11-2024
Daniel Penny's defense team rested their case without the Marine veteran taking the stand in his manslaughter trial for the death of Jordan Neely. The defense highlighted Neely's outstanding arrest...
Read more