20 Indian Soldiers Killed In “Violent Face-Off” With Chinese Forces On Disputed Border

• A “violent face-off” with the Chinese troops have resulted to the death of 20 members of the Indian Armed Forces.
• The incident happened on the disputed Himalayan border.
• An editor on China’s state-run newspaper warned that their country does not “fear” clash with India.

Indian officials confirmed that 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in Ladakh in the disputed Kashmir region. The Indian army initially said three of its soldiers had been killed, adding that China also suffered casualties. But it turns out a number of critically injured soldiers had succumbed to their wounds.

The Indian Armed Forces clashed with Chinese troops on the disputed Himalayan border in the Galwan Valley.

According to the previous statement, a “violent face-off took place yesterday night (June 15)” which led to “casualties on both sides” and the death of “an officer and two soldiers.”

Later in the day, officials released a statement that “17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty” and died from their injuries, taking the “total that were killed in action to 20”

Local media outlets reported that the Indian soldiers had been “beaten to death” but there was no confirmation from the military. China’s Global Times newspaper reported that “solemn representations” had been made with India. Soldiers from both countries are often not permitted to carry weapons in the disputed borders to de-escalate tensions.

The incident marks the first deadly clash in decades between the forces of the two nuclear-armed countries.

Some reports from Indian media sources even claimed the fight “involved stones and clubs,” reported The Guardian.

An inevitable clash, according to a former general.

Retired Indian general H.S. Panag said:

“This was an incident waiting to happen.

“We were warning that the (Chinese People’s Liberation Army) has come in, intruded in our area, and they were prepared for a limited border conflict or skirmishes.

“The situation was simmering since the last week of April.”

“China doesn’t want to have a clash with India, but we don’t fear it.”

Meanwhile, Global Times editor in chief Hu Xijin wrote in a tweet that China also “suffered casualties” in the encounter. He also warned India not to be “arrogant” and added that China does not “fear” a clash with the country.

Global Times is a daily tabloid newspaper run by Chinese Communist Party.

A spokesperson from the Chinese foreign ministry also accused Indian soldiers of “illegally crossing the border twice and carrying out provocative attacks on Chinese soldiers.”

Watch this video report: