Indian and Chinese soldiers suffered “minor injuries” after they were engaged in a face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Tawang Sector of Arunachal Pradesh the Army said on December 12, 2022 evening soon after the clash that occurred at Yangtse in Tawang sector last week in which around 20 Indian soldiers and a much higher number on the Chinese side were injured, according to multiple sources.
The face-off took place at the Tawang Sector of Arunachal Pradesh. Chinese troops crossed the LAC, which was contested by Indian soldiers in a “firm and resolute manner”. This is the first reported clash between Indian and Chinese troops since skirmishes at Eastern Ladakh.
The worst of these clashes broke out at Galwan Valley in June 2020, when 20 Indian soldiers died for the country and over 40 Chinese soldiers were killed or injured. The incident set off a series of confrontations between the two nations, including one at the South Bank of Pangong Lake.
What happened in Tawang?
As many as 300 heavily prepared Chinese Army (PLA) soldiers were sent to the LAC or Line of Actual Control in Tawang Sector of Arunachal Pradesh during the clash with Indian Army troops on December 9, but they did not expect the Indian side also to be well prepared.
The Chinese Army was attempting to get access to the top of 17,000 feet peak but the Indian troops deployed in the area of face-off in Tawang sector gave a befitting response to the Chinese troops and the number of Chinese soldiers injured in the clash is more than the Indian soldiers.
The incident took place on December 9 and led to minor injuries on both sides. Both sides have since disengaged from the area, past that military commanders have met to discuss the matter. As per the sources, at least 6 indian soldiers injured in the clash in Tawang sector were brought to Guwahati for treatment.
What Indian Government said?
According to government sources, such confrontations had been taking place since 2006 because of “differing perceptions” of the border. “In certain areas along the LAC in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh there are areas of differing perception, wherein both sides patrol the area upto their claim lines.
This has been the trend since 2006. On 09 December 2022, Chinese troops contacted the LAC in Tawang Sector which was contested by own troops in a firm and resolute manner,” said the sources. As a follow-up of the incident, the Indian commander in the area held a flag meeting with his Chinese counterpart to comply with “structured mechanisms to restore peace and tranquility”, the government said.
China is at its worst again
China is trying to make Arunachal Pradesh a bone of contention between her and India. Throwing to winds the Panchsheel theory of peaceful inter-state relationship endorsed in the Bandung Conference in 1952, China launched a full-throated military incursion into Arunachal Pradesh in 1961 on a flimsy pretext.
It was clear that China had expansionist ambition, and she would use military power to realize her ambitions. China is implementing the same policy again to provoke India and push hard to create an environment of animosity.
India is preparing well for such skirmishes
Consequently, the Modi government brought about a sea of change in the defense and security perspective concerning Chinese hostility. In a comparatively short time, India raised its defense preparedness by building roads close to the border, inducting more sophisticated weapons, adopting new strategies conducive to higher altitude warfare, upgrading air defense, etc.
China has witnessed the ever changing approach of Indian Government and Indian Army in Doklam, Galwan, and now in Tawang. However, we are pretty much sure that China will come back again at an opportune time.
