CHINA-INDIA: INDIAN AND CHINESE TROOPS CLASH ON SOUTHERN BANK OF PANGONG TSO

Reports essay that approx. 400-500 PLA soldiers came to the southern bank of the LAC and were challenged by Indian soldiers who saw them coming and had laid an ambush for them. In the fierce fighting that followed at least 30 PLA soldiers were critically injured and some taken PoW. One Indian officer and one civilian were killed. India's Ministry of Defence issued a statement on August 31 stating: "On the night of 29/30 August 2020, PLA troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo. Indian troops preempted this PLA activity on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso lake, undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on ground. The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility through dialogue, but is also equally determined to protect its territorial inrtegrity. ABrigade Commandr level Flag Meeting is in progress at Chushul to resolve the issues".

Chinese Reactions:
Accusing India of crossing the LAC into the Chinese side, Colonel Zhang Shuili, spokesman for the PLA Western Theater Command, warned on August 31: "China strongly opposes India's provocative move, the Chinese army is preparing for any possible situations, and will closely watch the situation to safeguard Chinese territory and maintain the border situation". He also made the following comments  on August 31: "Indian troops took control of Hunan coast and the nearby Reqin mountain pass once again, blatantly provoking and causing tension on the border". At 7.17 pm on August 31: "China strongly opposes India's provocative move, the Chinese army is preparing for any possible situations, and will closely watch the situation to safeguard Chinese territory and maintain the border situation." At 7.11 pm on August 31: Chinese military says it strongly demands India withdraw its troops from China-India border in order to avoid escalation of tension. It says the Indian army illegally crossed the Line of Actual Control on Monday, a provocative move that violated the previous consensus and urges the Indian side to withdraw its forces. 

Responding to a query by an Indian journalist about the India-China border situation, PRC Counsellor and Embassy spokesperson Ji Rong said on September 1: "On August 31st, Indian troops violated the consensus reached in previous multi-level engagements and negotiations between China and India, illegally trespassed the Line of Actual Control again at the southern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake and near the Reqin Pass in the western sector of China-India border, and conducted flagrant provocations, which again stirred tension in the border areas. India’s move has grossly violated China's territorial sovereignty, seriously violated relevant agreements, protocols and important consensus reached between the two countries, and severely damaged peace and tranquillity along with the China-India border areas. What India has done runs counter to the efforts made by both sides for a period of time to ease and cool down the situation on the ground, and China is resolutely opposed to this. China has made solemn representations to the Indian side, urged the Indian side to strictly control and restrain its frontline troops, earnestly honour its commitments, immediately stop all the provocative actions, immediately withdraw its troops illegally trespassing the Line of Actual Control, immediately stop any actions leading to the escalation and complication of the situation".







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