China’s bid to ‘change status quo’ on LAC thwarted: Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI: Chinese troops tried to transgress across the Line of Actual Control at Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 in a bid to “unilaterally change the status quo” there but were beaten back by Indian soldiers, defence minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Tuesday.
Sources, on their part, said the 300 troops from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), who intruded across the LAC armed with wooden clubs and sticks, apparently wanted to gain access to a peak that provides a commanding view in the high-altitude region at around 17,000 feet.
But the Indian soldiers deployed there, who also called in for reinforcements, forced the PLA troops to retreat in the ensuing protracted hand-to-hand combat that left several wounded on either side with broken bones, bruises and other injuries. China, in turn, on Tuesday alleged Indian troops had “illegally crossed” the disputed border to block a routine PLA patrol during the incident.

The Indian defence minister, however, made it clear that the PLA troops had provoked the face-off, and that India has asked China to “refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquillity along the border” through both military and diplomatic channels.

In a brief statement in both Houses of Parliament after a top-level meeting with national security advisor Ajit Doval and Army chief General Manoj Pande, Singh said, “The Chinese attempt (on December 9) was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner.”
“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. There are no fatalities or serious casualties on our side,” he added.
The minister said the PLA soldiers went back to their locations due to the timely intervention by Indian military commanders. The Indian brigade commander in the area subsequently held a flag meeting with his PLA counterpart on December 11 to stress that China should desist from such actions.

“Our forces are committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it. I am confident that this entire House will stand united in supporting our soldiers in their brave effort,” he added.
This is not the first time that the PLA has tried to gain access to the 17,000-feet peak in the forbidding terrain at Yangtse, or the ‘Mago-Chuna’ area as it is militarily called. A similar PLA bid was thwarted by Indian soldiers in October last year, as was reported by TOI.
Tawang is one of the most heavily defended regions by India along the 3,488-km LAC with China, which claims it as part of ‘South Tibet’ and had captured it in the initial days of the 1962 war.
Yangtse is one of the eight major flashpoints with China in the eastern sector of the LAC. The others are Namkha Chu, Sumdorong Chu, Asaphila, Longju, Dichu, Lamang and Fish Tail-1 & 2 in Dibang Valley.
Watch India, China troops clash: Rajnath Singh briefs Parliament, says 'Army stopped PLA, forced them to retreat'