China warns India against ”complicating the border situation”

By Naz Asghar

June 16, 2020

New Delhi/Beijing: After casualties on both sides in the Galwan Valley, China has warned India against making any ”unilateral” move, that could ”complicate” the border situation.

Three Indian soldiers were killed during violent clashes with the Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh where both sides have been locked in a face-off since May.

The Chinese side has also sufferred some casualties but they have given no official figures.

”The Indian troops crossed the border for illegal activities and launched provocative attacks against Chinese personnel, and the Chinese side has lodged a strong protest and solemn representation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference on Tuesday, the Global Times reported.

”The Chinese side has lodged a strong protest and solemn representation to the Indian side, urging it to strictly restrain its frontline troops according to the consensus, and not cross the borderline and make any unilateral movement that could complicate the border situation,” Zhao  said.

He, however, underlined that China and India have agreed to resolve bilateral issues through talks and contribute to the easing of tensions and maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas.

Earlier, Indian media reported that five Chinese soldiers had been killed in the clashes basing their claim on tweet by some Chinese journalists associated with Global Times who themselves quoted some randon newswebsite. The Global Times, a mouthpiece of the administration, however, through its official twitter handle disputed the figures.

”The official Global Times accounts have NEVER reported the exact casualties on the Chinese side. The Global Times CANNOT confirm the number at the moment,’ the newspaper tweeted.

Earlier, Indian Army in a statement said that during the de-escalation process which is underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place on Monday night during whichc an officer and two soldiers lost their lives.

The Army stated that senior military officials of both the countries are currently meeting at the face-off site to defuse the situation.

It is after 45 years that any casulaties have been sufferred by the Indian Army in conflict with China. It was in was 1975, when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

On Monday, Brigade Commander and company level talks were held in Eastern Ladakh between India and China. The talks are happening near patrolling point 14, near the mouth of Galwan Valley and patrolling point 17 at Hot Spring Area.

—India News Stream