Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in a speech to parliament, announced the prevention of an attempt by the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) to cross the Indian-Chinese border. According to the minister, Chinese troops have made an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing disagrees.
According to media reports, a clash between Chinese and Indian military personnel along the line of actual control occurred on December 9. Journalists, citing sources in the Indian Defense Ministry, report the participation of more than 600 military personnel in the skirmish. After the clash, the armed forces of both countries withdrew their troops from the border region in order to reduce the risk of the further escalation.
A few days after the incident, the Indian Defense Minister, speaking in Parliament, mentioned the conflict that had occurred. The Minister regarded the incident as an attempt to violate the established order at the border.
“The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts. The scuffle led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides”, - said the Indian minister. “The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquillity along the border. The issue was also taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” he added.
The Chinese side, in response to the statements of the Indian partners, urged New Delhi to strictly control the troops on the border. According to the Chinese side, the reason for the conflict between Indian and Chinese troops was the unjustified blocking of Chinese servicemen who carried out a regular patrol on the Chinese side of the line of actual control.
“We ask the Indian side to strictly control and restrain front-line troops, and work with China to maintain peace and tranquility on the border,” said a statement posted on Tuesday on the official account of the western zone of the PLA combat command on the social network WeChat.
A statement was also made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, who said that the situation on the Sino-Indian border is generally stable, the parties constantly maintain unhindered contacts on border issues through diplomatic and military channels.
The line of actual control is considered as a demarcation line in the border territories in Southern Tibet, which is disputed by India and China. The line was established as a result of the armistice between India and China after the armed conflict in 1962.
The new clash at the border was the first escalation of this scale since 2020. Then, as a result of military clashes, 20 soldiers of the Indian army were killed. It was also reported about losses on the Chinese side, but the PRC did not provide official data on the number of injured and dead. Then, as a result of negotiations, the parties began a withdrawal of troops from the border line.
After the 2020 conflict, India and China are taking measures to strengthen control over disputed sections of the border and fix violations. Earlier it was reported that India is actively expanding its military infrastructure in the eastern regions of Ladakh and plans to deploy drones and tracking systems on this section of the border. The Chinese side, in turn, reported on the delivery to the Air Force of the Western Command of the PLA of an upgraded version of the KJ-500 long-range radar detection and control aircraft to "increase situational awareness on the Sino-Indian border."
