New Delhi: A day after news circulated of a clash in Arunachal Pradesh, China on Tuesday, December 13, said that Indian troops had “illegally” crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC), but added that both sides have disengaged and the situation was “under control”.Earlier in the day, defence minister Rajnath Singh told the parliament that Chinese troops had “tried to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo” on December 9. On Monday night, defence ministry sources said that the “face-off led to minor injuries to few personnel from the two armies”.In a press statement, the Chinese PLA western theatre command’s spokesperson, Senior Colonel Long Shaohua, claimed that a “routine patrol” by Chinese troops “encountered obstruction from the Indian troops who illegally crossed the LAC”.“The Chinese troops made a professional, normative and resolute response, bringing the on-site situation under control. Up to now, the Chinese and Indian troops have disengaged,” said the Chinese military officer.There was, however, no explicit mention of a physical altercation or injuries.He also demanded that the “Indian side should strictly discipline and control its front-line troops and work with the Chinese side to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas”.Also read: Timing of Official Disclosure of India-China Clash at Tawang Raises QuestionsAt the daily media briefing, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson did not discuss the clash specifics but said that the India-China border areas “are generally stable”. “The two sides have maintained smooth communication on boundary-related issues through diplomatic and military channels,” said the spokesperson Wang Wenbin.He asserted that India should work with China to “earnestly deliver on the important common understandings reached by leaders of both sides, and act strictly in the spirit of relevant bilateral agreements signed by both sides and jointly preserve peace and tranquility in the border areas”.In India, the only official statements were made by the defence ministry. Singh said that there was a “physical scuffle” following the face-off and that Indian soldiers compelled the PLA to “return to their posts”. He did not give any further details but said that “few personnel” from both sides had sustained injuries. “I wish to share with this House that there are no fatalities or serious casualties on our side”.Two days after the clash, the local commander on the Indian side held a flag meeting with his Chinese counterpart. “The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquility along the border. The issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” said the defence minister.He claimed that the Indian military was “committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it”.The scuffle last week in Arunachal Pradesh was the most serious clash between Indian and Chinese troops since the hand-to-hand fighting in Galwan valley in June 2021, which left at least 23 soldiers dead.Both countries are still involved in a military face-off in some areas in eastern Ladakh, which began in May 2021. While troops have disengaged at four friction points, China and India are at a stalemate over resolving the two remaining face-off points at Depsang and Demhock.
