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 lake area of ​​Pangong Tso. 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 Galvan Valley in Ladakh on the evening of June 15. According to New Delhi's official, 20 soldiersIndia lost its lives in the incident. No information has been released on the number of deaths and 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 attempt to change the situation on the ground,” the Indian Ministry of Defence said.

The Indian Defence Ministry noted that a meeting is being held at the brigade commander level at the Indian outpost in the Chushul-Moldo sector 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.