India-China face-off live updates: Railways scraps contract with Chinese firm

India has taken Ladakh incident very seriously: Javadekar

'Leverage China’s vulnerabilities in Tibet, Taiwan and Xinjiang'

The death of scores of Indian and Chinese soldiers at Galwan in eastern Ladakh this week on the disputed border between the two countries, have led many to ask the questions — What is it that China wants? Where does it see itself going? What is this China Dream that they keep talking about? Read more

India-China stand-off: Past pacts prevented pulling the trigger

Indian soldiers patrolling in the forward areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China do carry assault rifles and firearms but when a team goes ahead to confront or talk to PLA troops, they are usually unarmed or have their weapons concealed or slung on their backs. This, in short, is the standard operating procedure (SOP) followed by Indian troops, who are also under strict instructions to never open fire in accordance with the flurry of border management agreements inked with China over the years. The 1996 agreement, for instance, lays down that “neither side shall open fire or conduct blast operations within 2 km of the LAC”. Read more

‘Clashes result of improved patrolling due to better infrastructure

Army low on stocks of 45 key items, 20 ammo stocks under critical 10(I) level

The Army, which is at present seeing eye-ball to eye-ball with Chinese troops in Ladakh, has put at least 45 key items, including different types of ammunition, warm clothing meant for troops deployed in areas like Ladakh, man-landing parachutes among other things, on a critical list. The army, through the department of defence production (DDP), has asked the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to ensure supply of these items on priority at a time more than 80,000 employees have threatened an indefinite strike in July. Read more

‘China feels vulnerable about borders, but may not escalate Galwan’

PLA of China seems to have provoked clash to grab Indian territory: Senate Majority Leader

For the sake of grabbing territory, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China appears to have instigated the most violent clash between the two Asian giants, a top American Senator said on Thursday. “On land, for the sake of grabbing territory, the PLA appears to have instigated the most violent clash between China and India since those nations went to war in 1962,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a major foreign policy speech on the floor of the House. Read more

India-China border situation: All party meeting called by PM Modi to be held today

The all-party meeting, called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the situation at the border areas with China, is scheduled to be held on Friday at 5 pm. "In order to discuss the situation in the India-China border areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an all-party meeting at 5 pm on June 19. Presidents of various political parties would take part in this virtual meeting," PMO had tweeted. The meeting was called after at least 20 Indian Army personnel, including a Colonel rank officer, had lost their lives in the violent face-off with Chinese troops in the Galwan valley area of Ladakh on June 15. India had said that the violent face-off happened in Ladakh's Galwan Valley as a result of an attempt by the Chinese troops to "unilaterally change" the status quo during de-escalation in Eastern Ladakh and the situation could have been avoided if the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side. Read more

China keeps mum on Galwan river dam

China on Thursday remained evasive about the number of casualties suffered by it in the Galwan valley clash and also on the role of its troops. It didn't respond to queries on reports that it was building a dam on the Galwan river on the border to obstruct its flow. Asked about allegations that Indian soldiers were brutally attacked with iron rods and spikes by Chinese soldiers, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reiterated China's allegation, squarely blaming Indian troops for the incident. “The right and wrong of this case is very clear and responsibility doesn't lie with the Chinese side,” he said. Read more

We extend our deepest condolences to the people of India for the lives lost as a result of the recent confrontation with China. We will remember the soldiers' families, loved ones, and communities as they grieve: United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo

Railways scraps contract with Chinese firm

The government on Thursday indicated a hardening of resolve to deploy economic measures to retaliate against China for transgressions in Ladakh by scrapping a Rs 471-crore contract given to a Chinese company for a World Bank-funded railway project, without waiting for the multilateral lending agency’s nod. DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd), an entity under the ministry, on Thursday decided to terminate the contract with Beijing National Railway Research & Design Institute of Signal & Communication for installing signals and communications system in the 417-km Kanpur-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Jn section of the eastern freight corridor. Read more

Chinese acts on India border meant to take advantage of Covid distractions: US

China opening multiple fronts like the one on India border may be because of Beijing's assessment that the world is distracted due to Covid-19 pandemic and it may advantage of it, a top American diplomat said Thursday. Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell made the remark, adding the Trump administration is closely watching the Indo-China situation. The latest Chinese activities with India is similar to Beijing's past activities on India border including Doklam, Stilwell told reporters during a conference call. Read more

Read: Army low on stocks of 45 key items, 20 ammo stocks under critical 10(I) level

LAC standoff: Owaisi takes jab at BJP-led NDA govt over China

"In last 6 years @PMOIndia has spoken to his Chinese counterpart EIGHTEEN times. What have all these talks led to? -China occupying Indian territory in #GalwanValley -20 soldiers losing their life. The only reply now is to take back our territory," he tweeted.

Get facts straight: Jaishankar to Rahul

“Let us get the facts straight. All troops on border duty always carry arms, especially when leaving the post. Those at Galwan on June 15 did so. Long-standing practice (as per 1996 and 2005 agreements) not to use firearms during face-offs,” Jaishankar said.

Read: ‘China feels vulnerable about borders, but may not escalate Galwan’

No Indian troops missing in action, says Army

The Army on Thursday said “no Indian troops are missing in action” after the violent skirmish with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh on Monday night, discounting reports of 10 soldiers being in the captivity of the People’s Liberation Army since that day.

Past pacts prevented pulling the trigger

This, in short, is the standard operating procedure (SOP) followed by Indian troops, who are also under strict instructions to never open fire in accordance with the flurry of border management agreements inked with China over the years. The 1996 agreement, for instance, lays down that “neither side shall open fire or conduct blast operations within 2 km of the LAC."

China's Galwan claim untenable, will hurt de-escalation efforts: India

China has twice made the claim since the June 15 violent clashes at Galwan. This has come as a surprise to many as, in the absence of any intrusion for decades, the LAC was thought to be settled there.