Tensions Flare Again as Indian and Chinese Troops Clash Along LAC in Ladakh
A minor skirmish reportedly broke out between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Burtse area of the Durbuk Sector in Ladakh on the morning of August 12th. The confrontation, which took place at around 4 a.m., saw soldiers from both sides freely using sticks against each other, according to a report by The Statesman on August 12th.
The altercation began when Chinese troops allegedly set fire to two reinforced cement concrete (RCC) huts on the Indian side of the LAC. This provoked a faceoff between Indian soldiers and troops from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The skirmish occurred near LAC pillar point 12, as India was in the process of replacing an Armoured Battalion in the area.
Tensions between India and China have been simmering since June 2020, following a violent clash in the Galwan Valley that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. China, which initially withheld information, later admitted that four of its soldiers had died, though intelligence reports suggest the number may have been significantly higher.
Despite at least 20 rounds of military talks and 13 rounds of discussions led by foreign offices from both countries, the border tensions show no signs of easing. The latest skirmish underscores the ongoing volatility along the LAC and raises concerns over potential escalations in the region.
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