India accuses China of trying to 'change status quo' on border

India on Tuesday accused China of making an attempt to “unilaterally change the status quo” of the Line of Actual Control by intruding across the disputed boundary at the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh, resulting in a fierce brawl in which soldiers from both sides were injured.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the Parliament that Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops tried to transgress the LAC at Yangtse area of Tawang sector for unilaterally changing the status quo, but such an attempt was thwarted by the Indian troops in a "firm and resolute manner, leading to physical scuffle".

Sources said the Chinese troops were armed with spiked clubs and bamboo sticks and that the soldiers from both sides sustained injuries in the hand-to-hand combat.

Following the heightened border tension, the Indian Air Force has increased its surveillance and increased the number of fighter jet sorties in areas close to the disputed boundary.

Also Read | No Indian soldier killed, PLA retreated in India-China border clash: Rajnath Singh tells Lok Sabha

“On December 9, PLA troops tried to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang sector and unilaterally change the status quo. The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner,” Singh said. “The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts. The scuffle led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides.”

The minister asserted there were no fatalities or serious casualties on the Indian side.

As a follow up action, local commanders from the two sides held a flag meeting on December 11 to discuss the issue in accordance with established mechanisms.

"The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquility along the border. The issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels," Singh said.

Also read | China military says Indian troops 'illegally' crossed border

The minister’s statement in the Parliament was preceded by a high-level review meeting where Singh took stock of the situation from the three Service Chiefs, Gen Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff and other senior officials.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the two sides maintained smooth communication on border-related issues through diplomatic and military channels, but declined to provide details of the December 9 clash.

However, Senior Colonel Long Shaohua, a spokesman of the PLA's Western Theatre Command claimed the clash on December 9 took place when PLA troops on regular patrol on the Chinese side of the LAC were blocked by Indian soldiers.

While the defence minister didn’t divulge details about the clash – the first one since the fatal incident at Galwan in eastern Ladakh two years ago – sources said the PLA troops attempted to scale a strategically important 17,000 ft high peak that gives a clear view of both sides of the LAC.

“In certain areas along the LAC in the Tawang sector there are areas of differing perception, wherein both sides patrol the area upto their claimed lines. This has been the trend since 2006,” Army sources said.

China's military, however, contradicted New Delhi's statement claiming Indian troops had "illegally" crossed a disputed border in the Himalayas and "obstructed" Chinese border patrol troops, triggering last week’s stand-off. Such a view was aired by Colonel Long who said the border defence forces organised regular patrol on the Chinese side of the LAC in "Dongzhang" area in the eastern sector of the China-India border, which was "blocked by the Indian Army illegally crossing the line".

"Our troops’ response is professional, firm and standard, which has helped to stabilise the situation. Both sides have been under disengagement since then. We ask the Indian side to strictly control and restrain the front-line forces and work with the Chinese side to maintain peace and tranquility," the PLA official said.

The December 9 incident comes after 16 rounds of senior military commander-level talks between India and China to resolve the two-and-half-year long crisis in eastern Ladakh.