Beijing has been accused of trying to “unilaterally” change the status quo on the disputed Himalayan boundary between India and China, according to a statement by India’s defense minister on Tuesday.
Last week, Indian and Chinese forces battled in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, the first combat between the two nuclear-armed countries in over two years. According to New Delhi, both sides’ forces were only minorly injured. According to AFP, at least six Indian soldiers were hurt in the clash.
According to Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the December 9 incident was sparked by Chinese forces attempting to enter the border. “The ensuing confrontation resulted in a physical altercation in which the Indian Army heroically halted the PLA from intruding into our country and forced them to return to their stations,” Singh added.
a lot of the time. The Chinese side has been requested to “refrain from such acts and maintain peace and quiet” along the border, according to Singh.
Beijing, on the other hand, does not appear to have recognized the clash. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, stressed on Tuesday that the “China-India border area is usually stable” and that both sides maintained “smooth interactions” on border-related problems. Wang did not disclose any specifics on the brawl, nor did he specify how many Chinese troops were hurt.
The spokesperson did say that Beijing expects India would “move in the same direction as China” and collaborate to “maintain the peace and tranquillity of the China-India border region.”