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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Indian troops in Ladakh on Friday. Photo: AP

PM Narendra Modi visits Indian troops near Chinese border following deadly clash

  • Visit to soldiers in Ladakh is described as effort to send strong message to Beijing after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the skirmish
  • Prime minister warns that countries that become ‘consumed by expansionism’ either pose a threat to humanity or have ‘destroyed the world’

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to the Himalayan border region of Ladakh on Friday, just three days after an initial agreement with China on the phased disengagement of frontline troops.

Modi’s unannounced trip, during which he visited a military base, was described by analysts as sending a strong message to Beijing and the Indian public following a deadly clash between the opposing sides.

Both sides have significantly reinforced their forces following the incident on June 15 in the disputed Galwan Valley, close to Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin.

It was the first time a clash between the two had resulted in fatalities in 45 years, with 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese dying in the largely hand-to-hand brawl.

02:13

India and China attempt to de-escalate border tension after deaths

India and China attempt to de-escalate border tension after deaths

On Friday, without mentioning Modi or his frontline visit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian warned New Delhi against making a “strategic miscalculation” and lashed out at unspecified Indian officials for making what he called irresponsible remarks.

He also called on India to “work with China to safeguard the overall situation”.

Zhao also accused New Delhi of violating World Trade Organisation rules by banning Chinese smartphone apps and prohibiting Chinese companies from working on road projects, adding that Beijing would “take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises in India”.

In his first visit to the area since the border row started in early May, Modi met troops, including soldiers who had been wounded in the clash, at Nimmu in the Leh district, around 250km (155 miles) from the disputed border between the two sides.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed by commanders during his visit to the Himalayan border region. Photo: AP

He used the visit to take a thinly veiled swipe at China, saying “the age of expansionism” was over.

“This is the age of development. Whenever a country has been consumed by expansionism, it has posed a threat to humanity and has destroyed the world. History is a witness that expansionist forces either lose or turn back,” Modi said.

Accompanied by top military brass, Modi paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and said the weak could not bring about peace. “Only the brave can bring about peace,” he continued.

China-India border fight latest in long and troubled history between the Asian giants

Modi also visited a hospital in Leh where the soldiers wounded in the face-off were being treated and said: “We never have and never will bow down to any power in the world.”

His trip came after “positive progress” had reportedly been made on Tuesday in talks between senior commanders.

Global Times, a tabloid controlled by the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Dail y, said on Thursday that both sides agreed to disengage “in batches”.

01:58

Indians call for boycott of Chinese goods after deadly border clash with China

Indians call for boycott of Chinese goods after deadly border clash with China

India is seeking international support in the stand-off from Russia, a long-standing security partner, as well as Japan and European countries.

Modi is also seeking to counter fierce domestic criticism over his relatively restrained public response to the deadly clash.

Former director general of military operations Lt General Vinod Bhatia said the visit to the troops sent a strong signal, adding “it does not get bigger than this”.

“It is morale boosting for the troops. But it also signifies [to China] that the country has resolved to stand firm,” he said.

Why India-China border clash in Galwan Valley turned into deadly brawl

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a defence analyst at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies in New Delhi, described Modi’s frontline visit as “a huge booster”, citing China’s tight secrecy over its casualties during the deadly clash.

Sun Shihai, an expert on India from Sichuan University in Chengdu, said that while Modi’s message was mainly aimed at his domestic audience, it was also a clear signal that India had no plan to cave in to China’s pressure.

“Modi obviously tried to score points domestically as it’s been a tradition for Indian leaders to visit the disputed border regions with China and Pakistan,” he said.

Friday’s visit was the prime minister’s first to the region since the stand-off with China began in May. Photo: Reuters

He said there was no contradiction between Modi’s strongly worded remarks and the new agreement to defuse tensions.

“Withdrawing troops does not mean India will stop building roads and other infrastructure in the border area or give up its sometimes adventurist policies.”

Zhang Jiadong, head of the South Asia Research Institute at Fudan University in Shanghai, noted Modi had visited territory claimed by Pakistan rather than China.

First China, now Pakistan: India faces prospect of two-front war

“If Modi had gone to Galwan as well, then China would definitely have had a stronger reaction to that,” he said.

Ji Rong, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in India dismissed Modi’s comments about “expansionist” countries, said in a Twitter post: “It is groundless to view China as ‘expansionist’, [to] exaggerate and fabricate its disputes with neighbours.”

Ji said: “China has demarcated boundary with 12 of its 14 neighbouring countries through peaceful negotiations, turning land borders into bonds of friendly cooperation.”

Additional reporting by Associated Press and Eduardo Baptista

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Modi makes a surprise visit to border region
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