NEW DELHI: China unilaterally tried to change the status quo in Arunachal Pradesh but the Indian forces forced it to retreat, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the Yangtse, Tawang sector of Arunachal on December 9, the first such encounter between the two neighbours since the deadly Galwan valley incident in June 2020.
“There was no loss of life or any serious injury to our soldiers. Chinese side has been asked to refrain from such actions, maintain peace, tranquility along border,” said the minister in the Lok Sabha on December 13. Troops from both sides sustained fractured limbs and other injuries in the clash. A swift intervention from top military leadership from both sides led to immediate disengagement of troops.
Later, talking to reporters outside Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah applauded the “valour and bravery” of the Indian soldiers. Reassuring citizens about the security of the country’s borders, Shah said “I want to say it clearly… till the time the BJP Government led by Prime Minister Modi is in power, no one can capture an inch of our land.” India has deployed a large number of troops in Tawang, which China claims to be part of South Tibet, to thwart any misadventure by the PLA. Yangtse, in particular, has been witnessing frequent face-offs between the rival armies.
