India-China Clash: Even as India and China are involved in dialogue to resolve the standoff in Ladakh since months now, the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) attempted to infiltrate towards Indian side three days ago, but were thwarted by the Indian soldiers positioned there. The aggression took place across the border at Naku La in North Sikkim last week.
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A clash followed the transgression bid in which injuries have been reported to both sides. As per sources, 17-20 soldiers of China have been injured in the skirmish that followed China’s infiltration attempt. On the Indian side, four Indian Army soldiers reportedly sustained injuries.
Indian Army later said in a statement: “It’s clarified that there was a minor face-off between Indian Army & Chinese PLA troops at Naku La, Sikkim on 20th January. It was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols.”
The reports come close on the heels of the conclusion of the 9th round of military-level talks between the two countries. The talks which started on Sunday morning continued for about 17 hours and ended at 2:30 am on Monday.
Though, an official statement on the meeting which took place in Moldo, is awaited, it is known that the meet was scheduled to reduce tension on the border and discuss the withdrawal of troops.
Reports state that India has proposed several verification measures at certain flashpoints along the LAC. People familiar with the negotiations said India insisted that the onus is on China to carry forward the process of disengagement and de-escalation at the friction points in the region. India has been maintaining that the disengagement process has to start simultaneously at all the friction points and no selective approach was acceptable to it.
Recent India-China skirmishes:
Last year, while the world as dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese troops attempted an infiltration bid on 15 June 2020, after which there was a violent clash in the Galwan Valley. 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the clash. Even then China had not released any figures of casualties of its soldiers.
On 29-30 August 2020, there was a clash again between India and China south of Pangong Tso Lake Indian Army said that it had thwarted ‘provocative military movements’ from China whose army had intruded into the southern bank of the Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh.
