Fresh border clash between Indian, Chinese troops leaves several injured
New Delhi, Dec 12 (EFE).- A confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops on the de facto border between the two countries last week resulted in several soldiers from both sides getting wounded, the authorities in New Delhi said in a statement Monday.
This latest clash follows those that occurred in 2020, which left multiple casualties and the incident continues to tarnish bilateral relations.
The latest incident occurred on Dec.9 in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh when, according to official Indian Army sources, Chinese soldiers crossed the LAC, or the disputed de facto border that separates the two countries.
This intrusion in the Tawang sector “was contested by own troops in a firm and resolute manner. This face-off led to minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides.”
The Indian Army stated that both parties “immediately disengaged from the area” and held a meeting of military officers to “discuss the issue in accordance with structured mechanisms to restore peace and tranquility.”
Relations between India and China were severely deteriorated following a border clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 in the western Himalayas.
It was the worst clash in 45 years between the nuclear-armed neighbors, in which at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed and 76 injured, while Beijing acknowledged four dead and one seriously injured.
Both nations reacted to the confrontation by sending troops to the LAC, triggering a military tension in the region before beginning to withdraw troops amid accusations of new military actions and violations in the disputed territory.
New Delhi and Beijing have since tried to resolve the crisis diplomatically.
The two nuclear powers have a historic dispute over several regions of the Himalayas, with Beijing claiming the New Delhi-controlled Arunachal Pradesh, while India in turn claims the Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin. EFE
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