China-India border dispute: Beijing doubles down on claims Indian troops ‘violated consensus’
- No clashes have been reported so far after two separate incidents on the disputed frontier, on Saturday night and Monday
- Government sources in New Delhi say Chinese military reinforcements were seen near Pangong Lake and an Indian paramilitary unit was sent in
Details remain sketchy after the two sides accused each other of trying to alter the status quo on their unmarked border in what appears to be two separate incidents, on Saturday night and Monday.
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India sends more troops to Ladakh after flare-up of tensions at China-India border
No clashes have been reported so far, and local military commanders were expected to continue their emergency meetings at the Chushul sector on Tuesday. However, Indian media reports said one Indian soldier had died and another was injured when a landmine went off during a reconnaissance mission in the region, though the Indian Army has yet to confirm this.
Analysts say the latest escalation in the long-running border dispute – which saw the deadliest clash between the two sides in half a century in June – may fuel distrust and hostility between the countries.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Tuesday said Indian troops had violated the previous consensus and crossed the de facto border, known as the Line of Actual Control, at the southern bank of the Pangong Lake and near the Reqin Pass on Monday.
“India’s move has grossly violated China’s territorial sovereignty, seriously violated relevant agreements, protocols and important consensus reached between the two countries, and severely damaged peace and tranquillity along the China-India border areas,” she said.