Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday told the Parliament that the Indian Army bravely prevented the Chinese PLA troops from transgressing into the Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang and compelled them to return to their posts. In a statement in both Houses of Parliament, Singh said that on 9 December, “PLA troops tried to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo.”
“Our troops contested the Chinese attempt in a firm and resolute manner. The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA 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. I wish to share with this House that there are no fatalities or serious casualties on our side,” he said.
Giving details of the incident, the Defence Minister said, “Due to timely intervention of Indian military commanders, PLA soldiers went back to their locations. As a follow-up of the incident, the local Commander in the area held a Flag Meeting with his counterpart on 11 December 2022 to discuss the issue in accordance with established mechanisms. The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquillity along the border”.
The Defence Minister said that the issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels.
“I would like to assure this House that our Forces are committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it. I am confident that this entire House will stand united in supporting our soldiers in their brave effort,” he said.
The Indian Army said on Monday that Indian and Chinese troops had clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on 9 December. The face-off resulted in “minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides”, The clash near Yangtse along the LAC took place last Friday amid the over 30-month border standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh. Over 200 Chinese soldiers carrying spiked clubs and sticks clashed with Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector, a source told the news agency PTI.
“PLA troops contacted the LAC in Tawang Sector, which was contested by own (Indian) troops in a firm and resolute manner. This face-off led to minor injuries to few personnel from both sides,” the Army said in a statement on Monday.
Reacting to the incident, China said the situation is ‘stable’ on the Indian border after reports of clashes, the news agency AFP reported. “As far as we understand, the China-India border situation is stable overall,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said, adding that the two sides “maintained unobstructed dialogue on the border issue through diplomatic and military channels.” This is the first response of China after Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a face-off in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on 9 December.
Team BharatShakti
