The Indian Army denied the allegations of the Chinese troops amid the India-China border tension on the Line of Actual Control (LAC.)
On the 7th of September, the Chinese troop at the LAC opened fire at the Indian Army, alleging them of entering their area and firing warning shots at the border.
Since the matter broke out in July, the troops of India and China are engaged in a stand-off in the region for over three months.
Tensions spiked in June, when clashes with Chinese troops left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead. Relations have continued to deteriorate since then.
In August, India accused China of provoking military tensions at the border twice within one week. Both charges were denied by China, which said that the stand-off was “entirely” India’s fault.
In early September, China accused India of firing shots at their troops . India denied the allegations, and accused China of firing into the air amid the stand-off.
The allegations of firing, if true, will be the first time in 45 years that shots have been fired at the border, breaking an agreement that barred firearm use.
In a statement, the Indian Army said, “India is committed to disengagement and de-escalating the situation on the LAC. However, China continues to undertake provocative activities to escalate.”
The no stage has the Indian Army transgressed across the LAC or resorted to using of the any aggressive means, including firing, it said. Meanwhile, China accused Indian troops of violating a bilateral agreement and firing warning shots in the air during a confrontation with Chinese personnel on the disputed border near the south bank of Pangong Tso Lake on September 7.
Chinese border guards took “countermeasures” to stabilise the situation, Zhang Shuili, the spokesman for the military’s western command theatre, said in a statement published by the military’s official news website. The statement did not make clear what those measures were or whether Chinese troops also fired warning shots. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described the India-China border situation in eastern Ladakh as “very serious. He said there is a need for “very very deep conversation” between the two sides at a political level. Jaishankar said the state of the relationship with China and the state of border situation with the country cannot be de-linked. Jaishankar is expected to have talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow.
Meanwhile, Indian Army and Chinese Army official are scheduled to conduct a meeting and decide upon the ongoing issue at LAC.
The meeting started at 6:00 P.M.
Stay tuned for further updates.
