Face-offs along LAC with China as boundary issue yet to be resolved: Army
New Delhi: After Indian and Chinese soldiers scuffled twice along the disputed border between the two countries in Sikkim and Ladakh last week, the army on Tuesday
New Delhi: After Indian and Chinese soldiers scuffled twice along the disputed border between the two countries in Sikkim and Ladakh last week, the army on Tuesday reiterated that “face-offs and aggressive behaviour occur” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China as the boundary issue has not been resolved.
“Patrols disengage after local level interaction and dialogue. Temporary and short duration face-offs occur as the boundary is not resolved. Troops resolve such incidents mutually as per established protocols,” the army said in a statement.
HT was the first to report on May 10 about the intensifying India-China border tensions in north Sikkim, where 150 soldiers were involved in a tense standoff a day earlier. Four Indian and seven Chinese soldiers were injured at Naku La during a confrontation that was later resolved. Aggressive behaviour by the two sides resulted in injuries to troops on both sides, the army said in a statement on May 10.
Scores of soldiers from the two countries also clashed near Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh last week, as reported by HT on May 11. While a few soldiers on both sides were injured in the scuffle that involved around 250 men, a flare-up was avoided as both armies stuck to protocols to resolve the standoff.
Chinese helicopter activity was observed across the LAC, the de facto border, on May 6 after the face-off was resolved. Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30 fighters were on a routine training mission in eastern Ladakh on May 6. “The presence of the Sukhois had nothing to do with the face-off. The weather was perfect for some good flying,” said an official on the condition of anonymity.
China on Monday sought to downplay the latest round of aggressive confrontation between Indian and Chinese soldiers in north Sikkim’s Naku La area, saying both countries should jointly uphold peace and handle differences.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not share details about the clash but attempted to subtly shift the blame to the Indian side, saying Chinese soldiers were always upholding peace and tranquillity along the border.
Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in a 73-day face-off in 2017 near the Sikkim border in Doklam. The two countries have a long-standing border dispute that led to the 1962 war.
