New clash between Indian and Chinese troops, casualties yet to be determined

Indian soldiers patrol near Leh, the capital of the Ladakh region, on the border between India and China on June 24, 2020. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

The situation in Ladakh worsened in early May, when several clashes broke out between the two armies in the high-altitude Pangong Tso lake area. Subsequently, India and China increased their military presence along the Line of Actual Control, which replaced the border between the two countries in Ladakh.

The new round of tensions began after a skirmish between the two armies in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh on the evening of June 15. According to New Delhi's official news agency, 20 soldiers were killed.India lost one person in the incident. No information has been released on the number of deaths or casualties from the Chinese side.

“On the night of 29-30 August 2020, the People’s Liberation Army of China violated the earlier consensus reached during military and diplomatic meetings to resolve the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ladakh and undertook provocative military actions to change the status quo. The Indian Army thwarted this activity on the southern bank of Pangong Tso Lake, took measures to strengthen its position and thwart China’s unilateral attempts to change the situation on the ground,” the Indian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The Indian Ministry of Defence noted that a meeting is being held at the brigade commander level at the Indian outpost in the Chushul-Moldo area to resolve the situation.

"The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility through dialogue, but is also determined to protect its territorial integrity," the statement said.