News India

After four years, China has unveiled footage of the clash between Indian and Chinese troops near Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh, which occurred in 2020. The video, circulating on social media, portrays Chinese soldiers purportedly assaulting Indian counterparts. Notably, the footage showcases a disparity in numbers, with fewer Indian soldiers visibly engaged but exhibiting staunch resistance against their Chinese counterparts.

Filmed at Finger 4 of the lake, the video depicts Chinese soldiers, along with vehicles and boats, engaging in the conflict. Both sides are observed hurling stones at each other amidst the confrontation. Experts suggest that China's advantage in road connectivity facilitated the swift arrival of reinforcements, amplifying the Chinese presence at the conflict site. Utilizing boats, Chinese soldiers reportedly launched attacks on Indian troops, who were initially outnumbered. Nevertheless, Indian soldiers retaliated fiercely, using sticks and stones to repel the assailants, resulting in injuries on both sides.

Pangong Tso Lake, situated at an altitude of 14,000 feet, is strategically significant for both nations. Surrounded by hills and possessing considerable depth, the lake serves as a pivotal location for military patrols. Notably, the area witnessed heightened tensions following China's construction of a road up to Finger 4, which India reciprocated, leading to incursions and escalations in conflict.

The dispute over Finger 4 has been ongoing, with the Indian Army historically patrolling up to Finger 8. However, tensions escalated when China's road construction prompted India to assert control up to Finger 4, incensing China and triggering incursions into Indian territory.

The border standoff in Ladakh in 2020, including the fatal clashes in Galwan Valley, resulted in casualties on both sides and escalated tensions. Subsequently, both India and China deployed substantial military resources along the border, perpetuating the ongoing tensions. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar recently emphasized the necessity for border peace as a prerequisite for any potential normalization of relations between the two countries.