Rising border tensions: India accuses China of provocative military moves.

 

India has said it has thwarted an attempt by Chinese troops to change the status of their disputed and undefined border in recent tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries.

Foreign news agencies Reuters and AFP reported that the Indian Army said in a statement that on the night of August 29/30, 2020, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) maintained military and diplomatic contacts during the ongoing tensions in eastern Ladakh. Violated previous consensus and provocative military moves to change status

The statement said Indian troops thwarted a Chinese attempt to "change the facts unilaterally on the ground".

However, China did not confirm the incident but referred to the unofficial border, saying that the Chinese border forces had "always respected the Line of Actual Control and never crossed it."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Xiao Lijian said in a press briefing on Monday that "border forces on both sides have maintained contact on ground issues."

For months, troops have been stationed in the western Himalayan region, where both sides have accused each other of violating the Line of Actual Control.

Earlier, on June 20, 20 Indian soldiers were killed during tensions in the Galvan Valley, after which both sides agreed to withdraw.

However, despite several rounds of talks, the armies are facing each other at various points, including the high-altitude Pyongyang Tsu Lake, which both countries claim. The Indian military says recent tensions have arisen along the lake.

"The Indian military has already sensed the PLA's activities on the southern shore of Pyongyang Lake and has taken steps to strengthen its position and thwart China's unilateral move to change the ground realities," the statement added.

It should be noted that India and China have not been able to agree on their nearly 3500 km (2,000 miles) long border and for this there was a war between the two countries in 1962. However, tensions between the two countries have been high this summer for half a century. Had reached its peak.

The Indian military said military officials from both countries met at the border point to resolve the recent crisis.