Tensions rise in Ladakh as border conflicts with Chinese Liberation Army (PLA) resurface, after they reportedly carried out an act of unilateral military aggression against India at the Pangong Tso lake at around 11 PM on 29 August.
Reports state that a Chinese force of 200-500 soldiers arrived near the Pangong Tso positions of the Indian Army, in a move to possibly unilaterally occupy the area. The Chinese were reportedly challenged by the Indian Army soldiers posted at the spot, which resulted in the two sides engaging in hand to hand combat for the next few minutes before Chinese soldiers retreated. There were no casualties reported in the conflict.
However, according to a statement by the Indian Army, “The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops "violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo."
A Chinese military spokesperson, Colonel Zhang Shuili, has claimed in a statement that it was India that had violated China's sovereignty.
"The Chinese military is taking necessary countermeasures and will pay close attention to developments and resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and peace and stability in border areas," said the spokesperson.
Amid the fresh escalation between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar issued a veiled threat to China on Monday. "India will match or respond to China's capabilities in the same measure if Beijing continues to assert herself and influence areas or geographies," EAM Jaishankar said.
Reports say that, in a high-level meeting chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, India came to the decision that they are prepared for a long stand-off with China in Ladakh and will expand its troop deployment in the region.
Brigade Commander-level officers were in talks at Chushul to defuse tension, the government said. The Ladakh-Srinagar highway has been closed to civilian traffic, reportedly for troop movement. Indian forces remain in large numbers at the latest site of escalation, ready to respond. Taking an aggressive stance, China said its military "is taking necessary countermeasures".
This is of course, the most severe escalation since the conflict in July. While the two nations had agreed on disengagement since the withdrawal of troops is still not complete. Chinese soldiers continue to occupy positions in-depth on slopes along Finger 5 and on slopes extending towards Finger 8, on the north bank of the Pangong Lake, satellite pictures showed. India believes the Line of Actual Control lies at Finger 8, near Fort Khurnak, a historic site in the area. China believes the LAC is at Finger 4 and has prevented Indian soldiers from patrolling beyond the point since April.