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BIG STORY DECEMBER 23, 2022 | The Indian Eye 4

INDIA-CHINA BORDER

ESCALATION AGAIN!

Since the bloody clash at Galwan Valley in mid-2020, the Chinese PLA has intensified

patrols elsewhere, including doubling their frequency at Tawang. As the Chinese

fortify their position on the disputed border, how is India responding?

OUR BUREAU
Tawang/New Delhi/Beijing
hinese troops of the Peo-
ple’s Liberation Army (PLA)
Cclashed with the Indian Army
in the eastern area of the two coun-
tries’ disputed border on December
9. This is simply the latest in a series
of provocations that reflect China’s
love of “salami slicing” in order to
gain greater swathes of territory.
The clash occurred in the Yangtse
sector north of Tawang, located in
Arunachal Pradesh. In Chinese, the
area is known as Dongzhang. It was
the most serious clash to erupt since
the deadly confrontation at Galwan
Valley in Ladakh in June 2020.
India reported that 300-400 Chi-
nese troops initiated a confrontation.
Injuries were reported on both sides
in the ensuing scuffle that involved
handheld weapons such as spiked
clubs, tasers and monkey fists (knot- General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lieutenant General RP Kalita talks to Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh (Agencies)
ted ropes swung as weapons). Chi-
nese media agencies such as Phoenix both sides. So, in one of those areas, sualties on our side”. “Due to timely a flag meeting at the delegation level
reported that “about 8-9 people were where there are different perceptions intervention of Indian military com- at Bumla, wherein the issue has been
injured in the Indian Army, and sev- of the LAC, PLA patrol transgressed manders, PLA soldiers went back to resolved further. Presently, I would
eral people in the Chinese People’s and which was contested very firmly,” their locations,” the minister added. like to assure you that the border ar-
Liberation Army were also injured”. the top military officer said. Lt Gen RP Kalia’s remarks came eas along the northern frontier are
On Friday, General Officer On Tuesday, India’s Defense while addressing the media, during stable and we are firmly in control,”
Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Com- Minister Rajnath Singh informed the the wreath-laying ceremony, on the he added.
mand, Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita Rajya Sabha that China’s People’s occasion of the 51st anniversary of Clarity was not helped by knee-
took note of the recent border skir- Liberation Army (PLA) troops tried Vijay Dias. jerk reactions on social media, nor the
mish between Indian troops and Chi- to transgress the Line of Actual Con- The top army officer urged the circulation of video clips that clearly
nese soldiers in the Tawang sector of trol in the Yangtse area of Arunachal general public not to believe in any did not emanate from the aforemen-
Arunachal Pradesh by saying that the Pradesh Tawang Sector and unilater- rumors about the incident, underlin- tioned incident. Indeed, a viral video
transgression by the People’s Libera- ally change the status quo. ing that the clash contained. “I am clip most likely came from a 2021
tion Army (PLA) patrol was “contest- Rajnath Singh stated that Chi- happy to say that it was contained at clash in the area. However, what the
ed firmly”. nese troops went back to their loca- the local level. Though some minor video did underscore was that this has
He also informed that a flag tions due to timely intervention of injuries were there to soldiers of both been an area of tension for some time
meeting at the delegation level at Indian military commanders. In his sides. I would also like to request you and that Chinese provocations are
Bumla has helped in further resolving statement in the Rajya Sabha, Ra- to not to listen to any rumors, it was not new there.
the matter. “You all are aware that jnath Singh said that “our forces are only minor injuries to soldiers from In a rare departure from official
all across the border there are differ- committed to protecting our territori- both sides,” he said. silence, a spokesperson for the PLA’s
ent perceptions in the Line of Actual al integrity and will continue to thwart “The local Commanders were Western Theater Command issued a
Control (LAC), there are eight recog- any attempt made on it.” able to resolve the issue by carrying brief statement on 13 December. This
nized disputed areas where the differ- Rajnath Singh clarified that out negotiations resorting to the exist- particular command is responsible for
ent perceptions are acknowledged by “there are no fatalities or serious ca- ing protocols, which was followed by Continued at next page... >>

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