Indian and Chinese forces faced-off at multiple locations along the disputed border area between the two nations on Monday night and Tuesday, according to the Times of India.
A “sizeable number” of Chinese military personnel crossed into the Indian side of the de-facto border at multiple locations, according to Indian reports. The Indian Army has objected to the reported transgressions of the border line and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops in order to restore peace in the area.
The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a loose, disputed demarcation line marking the border between China and India.
On Monday night, one Indian officer and two soldiers were killed in a standoff with China troops in the Galwan Valley along the China-India border, according to The Times of India. The Chinese military also suffered casualties, according to the Indian Army.
Indian and Chinese troops reportedly clashed with rods and stones, similar to incidents in early May, which led to a number of injuries and the military buildups along the LAC.
China claimed that Indian troops crossed the LAC twice on Monday and attacked Chinese personnel, leading to clashes between forces from the two countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian stated that he was “not aware” of the reports of Indian casualties. “Our border troops had a high-level meeting and reached important consensus on easing the border situation but astonishingly on June 15 the Indian troops seriously violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line for illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel which led to serious physical conflict between the two sides and China has lodged strong protest and representation with the Indian side,” said Lijian. “We once again solemnly ask the Indian side to follow our consensus, strictly regulate its front-line troops and do not cross the line, do not stir up troubles or make unilateral moves that may complicate matters,” said Lijian, adding that the two sides have agreed to resolve the issue through dialogue, according to the Times of India.
The last time Indian soldiers were killed along the LAC was in an ambush in 1975, when four Indian soldiers were killed.
Senior military officials met at the site to attempt to defuse the situation on Tuesday.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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