India-China border face-off Highlights: Govt considers customs duty hike on goods imported from China

Taking a jab at the BJP-led NDAgovernment, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisiclaimed that its talks with China during the last six years, at the level of Prime Minister, has only led to China occupying Indian territory in Galwan Valley.

"In last 6 years @PMOIndia has spoken to his Chinese counterpart EIGHTEEN times. What have all these talks led to? -China occupying Indian territory in #GalwanValley -20 soldiers losing their life. The only reply now is to take back our territory," he tweeted.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will not celebrate his 50th birthday tomorrow in view of COVID-19 pandemic and death of 20 Army personnel in stand-off with China in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, say sources close to him told PTI.

No one critical as of now, all are stable. 18 soldiers are at our hospital in Leh, they will be out on duty in about 15 days. 58 soldiers are at other hospitals they should be back on duty within a week,Indian Army sources told ANI

The government is considering hiking customs duty on a number of products, mainly imported from China, amid ongoing border tensions with the neighbouring country, a source said. Although nothing has been finalised as yet, the focus would be on cutting down import of non-essential items, the source said.

Discussion is on over hiking duties on goods imported mainly from China, the source said.

About 14 per cent of India's total imports are from China. Between April 2019-February 2020, India has imported goods worth USD 62.4 billion, while exports to the neighbouring country stood at USD 15.5 billion.

The main goods imported from China include clocks and watches, musical instruments, toys, sports goods, furniture, mattresses, plastics, electrical machinery, electronic equipments, chemicals, iron and steel items, fertiliser, mineral fuel and metals.

India has time and again raised concerns over widening trade deficit with China, which stood at about USD 47 billion during April-February 2019-20.

The move to raise duty also assumes significance as the government is working on ways to boost local manufacturing and promote Make in India.

– PTI

Calls for boycott of Chinese products amid Sino-India border tension may be trending on social media but these are yet to impact sales of smartphone and consumer durables products from the stables of companies like Xiaomi, Realme and Haier, according to industry executives.

While companies declined to comment on the issue, senior executives at many of these Chinese firms said there has been no impact on sales yet.

One of the senior leaders at a smartphone company, who did not wish to be named, said there is pent up demand for phones because people are working and studying from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and many firms have had to resort to expensive imports to meet the spurt in demand.

On Twitter, topics like 'Boycott China', 'Go China' and 'Go Chinese Go' were trending as killing of 20 Indian soldiers in a violent clash with the Chinese army in Ladakh's Galwan Valley stirred anti-China sentiment among people.

Industry body Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) said sentiments are being shaped in consumers' minds through various social media platforms and other channels over recent developments that could reflect in the purchase behaviour.

– PTI

Vishwa Hindu Parishad announces nationwide campaign for boycotting Chinese goods

In a statement, VHP general secretary Milind Parande said the whole country is stunned over the fatal attack by China on Indian Army soldiers and it is high time that the neighbouring country should…... Read More

Anti-China protests erupted in various parts of West Bengal on Thursday against the killing of 20 Indian soldiers, including two from the state, in a clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley.

People came out on the streets in large numbers calling for boycott of Chinese products.

Chinese flags and posters of Chinese President Xi Jinping were burnt in various parts of the state, amid slogans hailing the sacrifice of the Indian soldiers.

The state unit of Shiv Sena took out a protest march outside the Chinese consulate in the Salt Lake area here and destroyed Chinese products including mobile phones.

Traders in Siliguri's famed Hong Kong Market, known for selling Chinese goods, said they were planning to change the name of the market and boycott products from the neighbouring country.

– PTI

In view of the Ladakh standoff, Pakistan will try to infiltrate more terrorists and also give impetus to violence in Kashmir valley and elsewhere;Dilbag Singh, J&KDGP at a meeting today to review security scenario in the UT.

Jharkhand Chief MinisterHemant SorenandGovernorDraupadi Murmu pay tributes to Sepoy Ganesh Hansda, who lost his life in Galwan Valley. Sorensaid, "In addition to compensation, we'll give plot of land anywhere in state free of cost to bereaved families, and request the Centre to allot petrol pumps to them."

Traders' body CAIT appeals to Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Virat Kohli and other celebrities to stop endorsing Chinese brands as a mark of respect for Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in Galwan Valley attack.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad says it will conduct door-to-door campaign across country appealing to people to boycott Chinese goods and mobile phones to break "dragon's backbone". (PTI)

Major General-level talks between India and China are over after more than six hours. All the personnel who took part in the Galwan valley operations on June 15-16 are accounted for and no personnel are missing in action,sources have told news agency ANI.

China has repeatedly said that the incident happened because the Indian front-line troops blatantly broke the consensus reached by the military chiefs of both sides.

Border situation is overall stable andcontrollable. We believe that under guidance of consensus reached by leaders of 2 countries, 2 sides can properly handle the situation, jointly safeguard peace andstability along the border, and promote healthy andstable bilateral relations.