Fresh tension at border after Chinese troops violate agreement with Indian army

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Chinese troops violated consensus and carried out provocative military movements on the night of August 29-30, aimed at changing the status quo at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Indian Army said on August 31.

The army further said that Indian soldiers pre-empted People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s activity on the southern bank of Pangong Tso and undertook measures to strengthen positions and thwart Chinese intentions.

The Chinese military’s actions were meant to unilaterally change facts on the ground, it said.

“The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity through dialogue but is also equally determined to protect its territorial integrity,” the Army said, adding that a Brigade Commander-level flag meeting is in progress at Chushul to resolve the issues.

The tension between the Indian Army and Chinese troops escalated manifold after the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out the details.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has last week said that the stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh is the most serious situation since the 1962 Indo-China war.

In an interview with Rediff.com, the External Affairs Minister said, "This is surely the most serious situation after 1962. In fact, after 45 years, we have had military casualties on this border. The quantum of forces currently deployed by both sides at the LAC is also unprecedented."