Sharpening attack on China over the violent skirmish between Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops at Galwan Valley, External Affairs Ministry accused China of amassing a large contingent of troops and armaments along the Line of Actual Control since early May.
Addressing media via video conferencing, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said conduct of the Chinese forces has been in complete disregard of all mutually agreed norms.
Outlining sequence of events, Srivastava said the Chinese side took action to hinder India’s “normal, traditional” patrolling pattern in Galwan Valley as it sought to change status quo in other areas of the Western Sector in mid-May.
“We registered our protest on the Chinese actions through both diplomatic and military channels and made it clear that any such change was unacceptable to us,” he said. Post this, senior commanders met on June 6 and agreed on a process for de-escalation and disengagement along the LAC involving “reciprocal actions”.
“Chinese side departed from these understandings in respect of the LAC in the Galwan Valley area and sought to erect structures just across the LAC. When this attempt was foiled, Chinese troops took violent action on June 15 that directly resulted in casualties,” he added.