NewsGate Press Network

Timely intervention of the troops on ground forced the Chinese soldiers back to their positions, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday the 13th of December 2022 assuring the Parliament that the forces are fully committed to safeguarding country’s territorial integrity.

Speaking first in the Lok Sabha and then Rajya Sabha, Singh said that the PLA troops, on December 9 did attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by encroaching upon the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh.

“Our Army faced the Chinese with determination. A scuffle ensued in this face-off. The Indian Army bravely stopped the PLA from encroaching on our territory, and forced them to return to their posts. Some soldiers from both sides were injured in this skirmish,” he said.

Singh assured the House that none of the Indian oldiers have either died or seriously injured in the incident.

“Due to the timely intervention of Indian military commanders, PLA soldiers went back to their locations,” the minister emphasised.

“After this incident, the local commander of the area held a flag meeting with his Chinese counterpart on December 11, under the established arrangement, and discussed the incident. The Chinese side was dissuaded from such actions and asked to maintain peace along the border. The issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side at the diplomatic level,” Singh further said.

Seeking the support from the House, Rajnath Singh said that the Indian forces are fully committed to safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity, and are always ready to prevent any attempt against it.

I am sure this House will unanimously support the valor and courage of our forces, the minister added.

In the face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Yangtse in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh, PLA troops clashed with three units of the Indian Army belonging to different infantry regiments who thwarted their attempt to change status quo on the Line of Actual Control.

News agency ANI is reporting that troops belonging to three different battalions including Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Jat regiment and Sikh Light Infantry were present at the location of the clash last week when the Chinese tried to unilaterally change the status quo in the area.

The Chinese were armed with clubs, sticks and other equipment for the clash. The Indian troops were also prepared for the clash as they had known the intentions of the adversary, they said.
One of the units of the Indian Army was on its way out of there and was being relieved by a new unit. However, the Chinese chose to clash on a day when both units were present in the area.

It is being reported by various television media outlets that about 300 Chinese PLA troops attacked Indian Army posts at 3 am.