Arunachal conflict: US rebukes China for ‘trend of provocation’, says monitoring state of affairs

The US is intently monitoring the state of affairs alongside the India-China border, a Pentagon spokesperson mentioned, following clashes between Indian and Chinese troops close to LAC in Arunachal Pradesh.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 14, 2022 08:13 IST

Indian and Chinese troops clashed within the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9. (Photo: AFP/File)

By India Today Web Desk: The United States is intently monitoring the state of affairs alongside the India-China border following the December 9 conflict between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector and mentioned it absolutely helps India’s efforts to de-escalate.

“The defense department continues to closely watch developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the India-China border,” the Pentagon mentioned in a press briefing on Tuesday.

The US has seen China proceed to amass forces and construct army infrastructure within the space of the LAC, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder mentioned, including that the US absolutely helps India’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate the state of affairs.

READ | Exclusive: Tawang was no Galwan. Satellite pics present

The assertion comes hours after Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh advised Parliament that China tried to alter the established order in Arunachal Pradesh and tried a land seize.

“China’s People’s Liberation Army encroached upon Indian land and unilaterally attempted to change the status quo along the disputed border near the Yangtse area. Indian soldiers responded with firmness and prevented the Chinese army from transgressing into our territory and forced them to return to their posts,” Rajnath Singh mentioned, including that not one of the Indian troopers died or had been significantly injured.

Troops belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Jat Regiment and Sikh Light Infantry had been current on the location of the conflict when the Chinese tried to forcefully enter Indian territory, prime defence sources advised India Today.

ALSO READ | Tawang conflict reaches Parliament, China claims Army obstructed troops

The Pentagon spokesperson identified that the standoff displays the rising pattern by China “to assert itself and to be provocative in areas of US allies in the Indo-Pacific”.

Indian and Chinese troops clashed within the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, the primary such incident between the 2 sides because the skirmishes in Ladakh’s Galwan in 2020.

In Galwan, Indian and Chinese troops engaged in fight and 20 Indian troopers died, as did an undisclosed variety of Chinese troopers. Since then, each international locations have deployed 1000’s of troops alongside the LAC. After a number of conferences between army commanders, Indian and Chinese troops pulled again from a lot of the disputed areas.

ALSO READ | China says Indian troops ‘illegally’ crossed border in Arunachal’s Tawang: Report

Published On:

Dec 14, 2022