China urges peaceful end to India border clash in Himalayas
China has declared it is seeking a peaceful resolution to its Himalayan border dispute with India following the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the most violent confrontation in decades.
“Both sides agree to resolve this matter through dialogue and consultation and make efforts to ease the situation and safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border area,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a briefing yesterday.
The foreign ministers of both nations spoke over the phone yesterday. China’s Wang Yi emphasised that both sides should strengthen communication and co-ordination to resolve differences, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Indian security forces said neither side fired any shots in the clash in the Ladakh region late on Monday that was the first deadly confrontation on the disputed border between India and China since 1975. Some officials said the soldiers were carrying antiriot gear instead of weapons.
China has not said if any of its troops were injured or killed.
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi said the country would be proud the Indian soldiers died while fighting.
“Their sacrifices wouldn’t go to waste,” he said. “For us, the unity and sovereignty of the country is the most important. India wants peace, but when provoked it is capable of giving a fitting reply be it any kind of situation.” India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh tweeted the loss of soldiers in the Galwan Valley was “deeply disturbing and painful”.
A group of protesters gathered near the Chinese Embassy in the Indian capital condemning the killing of the soldiers and demanding a ban on Chinese goods. They carried placards with crossed photographs of Chinese president Xi Jinping and the Chinese army.
A small group of retired
Indian army personnel also marched close to the embassy with placards reading “Chinese army down down”. They were detained by police.
Mrzhao,thechinesespokesperson, repeated Chinese claims the clashes erupted after Indian forces “provoked and attacked Chinese personnel, which led to fears, physical confrontation between the two sides’ border troops and resulted in casualties”.
An official Communist Party newspaper said the clash occurred because India misjudged the Chinese army’s strength and willingness to respond. The Global Times, which often reflects nationalistic views within the party’s leadership, said China did not disclose whether it had casualties in the skirmish to prevent further escalation.
While experts said the two nations were unlikely to head to war, they also believe easing tensions quickly will be difficult.