Chinese solider killed in Galwan up for top medal

BEIJING : A Chinese soldier killed fighting Indian troops at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on June 16 has been nominated for a once-in-a-century medal during the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on July 1.

Chen Hongjun, 30, the commander of a motorised infantry battalion under a People Liberation Army (PLA) border defence regiment was among the four Chinese troops killed at Galwan Valley. On Monday, Chinese state media reported that Chen was among the 29 nominated for the July 1 medal. The list includes Chen, “…a border defence hero who held his post in the plateau for 10 years and died safeguarding China’s territorial integrity against Indian provocation in the Galwan Valley in June 2020,” the nationalistic tabloid, Global Times said in a report, quoting the citation.

India has consistently denied China’s allegation of provoking friction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.