By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 26: India and China were involved in a “minor face-off” last week at the Sikkim border, according to the statement issued by the Indian Army on Monday. “It is clarified that there was a minor face-off at Naku La area of North Sikkim on 20 January 2021 and the same was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols,” the statement read.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian didn’t give any details but urged India to exercise restraint, “I would like to stress though that China’s border troops are committed to upholding peace and tranquillity along the border with India. We urge the Indian side to work in the same direction as us and refrain from actions that might escalate or complicate the situation along the border.” He said he hopes that both sides will take proper actions to address their differences and take concrete actions to safeguard peace and stability along the border.
Indian media reports said that the latest row resulted in injuries to soldiers from both sides. Indian military offered no comment but advised caution on such reports, “Media is requested to refrain from overplaying or exaggerating reports which are factually incorrect.” Last year, both the countries confronted each other in a stand-off along the Indo-Tibet border in Ladakh that began last year which left 20 Indian soldiers dead along with an unspecified number of Chinese casualties.
Indian and Chinese military commanders held talks on Sunday for several hours to address the crisis. Several rounds of talks have already been held over past months to disengage troops facing the two nuclear-armed countries in Ladakh. The Chinese defence ministry said on Monday that the ninth round of talks with the Indian government was “positive” but did not comment on the latest incident. The sides agreed to push for an early disengagement of the frontline troops at their shared border in the Himalayas.
