India accuses China of 'provocative' action in new border standoff

A satellite image taken over Galwan Valley in Ladakh, India, parts of which are contested with China, June 16, 2020, in this handout obtained from Planet Labs Inc. REUTERS

An Indian army convoy makes way towards Leh, bordering China, in Gagangir. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed during "hand-to-hand' fighting with Chinese troops in a disputed Himalayan region, India's military said, the first deadly clash between the nuclear powers in decades. AFP

In this May 5, 2013 photo, Chinese troops hold a banner which reads: "You've crossed the border, please go back" in Ladakh, India. China on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 accused Indian forces along their Himalayan border of carrying out "provocative attacks" on its troops, leading to "serious physical conflicts" between the sides. AP Photo

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers guard a highway leading towards Leh, bordering China, in Gagangir. The long-running border dispute between Asian nuclear powers India and China turned deadly for the first time in nearly half a century after at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a "violent face-off", the army said. AFP

The father and mother of Colonel Santosh Babu, who was killed in border clashes with Chinese troops, sit next to his portrait, in Suryapet,Telangana state, India. REUTERS

Police set up barricades outside the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. The long-running border dispute between Asian nuclear powers India and China turned deadly for the first time in nearly half a century after at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a "violent face-off", the army said on June 16. AFP

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers guard a highway leading towards Leh, bordering China, in Gagangir. The long-running border dispute between Asian nuclear powers India and China turned deadly for the first time in nearly half a century after at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a "violent face-off", the army said on June 16. AFP

Supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Jayanta Party (BJP) attempt to burn a sheet resembling the Chinese national flag during a protest against China, in Kochi, India. REUTERS

Anti-China protesters display placards urging citizens to boycott Chinese goods at a market in New Delhi. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed during "hand-to-hand' fighting with Chinese troops in a disputed Himalayan region, India's military said, the first deadly clash between the nuclear powers in decades. AFP

Chinese police and security personnel stand outside the Indian embassy in Beijing. Beijing's state media on June 17 played down a deadly border confrontation between Chinese and Indian troops and did not reveal casualties on its side even as social media users urged retaliation. The Indian army said Tuesday that 20 of its soldiers were killed in a "violent face-off" along the Himalayan frontier on June 16, which resulted in "casualties on both sides". AFP

The Indian military on Monday accused China of staging "provocative" action on their contested Himalayan border where 20 Indian troops were killed in a battle in June.

The incident happened in the eastern Ladakh region on Saturday night, according to an Indian defence ministry statement which gave few details of the events.

Three Indian military sources told AFP however that China's People's Liberation Army crossed into a zone that India considers its territory and were pushed back without violence.

Military commanders from the two sides held talks on Monday in a new bid to ease tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours who fought a border war in 1962 and have staged regular high altitude clashes since.

China did not confirm the incident, but the foreign ministry said its troops have "always strictly respected" the unofficial border known as the Line of Actual Control.

On June 15, troops from the two sides fought hand-to-hand combat in Ladakh in which 20 Indian troops were killed. China acknowledged casualties but did not give figures.

The two sides blame each other for recent clashes and the two armies have since poured tens of thousands of troops into the region. Military and diplomatic talks are at an apparent stalemate.

The latest showdown was at Pangong Tso, a lake at 4,200 metres altitude, that is one of several hotspots where troops have massed since June.

The PLA "carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo" at the border, according to India's defence ministry.

"Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity on the southern bank of Pangong Tso lake, undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on ground," said the ministry.

Senior officers met at a border post near the scene of the standoff on Monday, it added.

According to Indian military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, Indian troops pushed back Chinese troops who crossed the Line of Control.

"PLA soldiers walked into our area near the south bank of Pangong, but our soldiers were prepared and quickly pushed them back without any violence," said one source.

"They tried to come in again several hours later but we stood firm. There has been no such confrontation in this area in the past."

China's foreign ministry said Chinese troops "have always strictly respected the Line of Actual Control and never crossed the line."

"Border troops from both sides have maintained communication over issues on the ground," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a press briefing.

Amidst calls for boycotts of Chinese goods, India has stepped up economic pressure on China since the June battle and repeatedly warned that relations would suffer unless its troops pull back.

India has banned at least 49 Chinese owned-apps, including the Tik Tok video platform, frozen Chinese firms out of contracts and held up Chinese goods at customs posts. China has complained about the action and warned that Indian consumers will suffer.

"We have very large number of Chinese forces (at the border) and frankly we are at a loss to know why," Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said in an interview with the Hindustan Times released Sunday.

"There will naturally be issues if the peace and tranquility is put under stress," he added.