Indian and Chinese soldiers brawl on Himalayan border with casualties on both sides

Indian and Chinese troops brawled on their contested Himalayan border leaving injuries on both sides, military sources and media reports said Monday.

The latest fight took place Wednesday last week at Naku La, in Sikkim state, after China tried to send a patrol on to Indian territory, Indian military sources said.

The clash left at least 20 Chinese troops and four Indian troops injured, according to the same sources whose figures could not be independently verified.  

Chinese and Indian troops fought last week at Naku La, on the border between Sikkim state and the Tibet region, leaving casualties on both sides, according to Indian military sources

The Indian military said the fighting – which they described as a ‘minor face-off’ – was de-escalated by local officers. 

A spokesman said: ‘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.’

Sources described the situation in the area as ‘tense’ but ‘stable’ on Monday, according to India Today.

Chinese state media described reports on the clash as ‘fake news’, saying they had received no reports of fighting from commanders at the border. 

Hand-to-hand fighting between 150 soldiers from the two sides at Naku La in May last year set off the latest frontier tensions between the world’s two most populous nations.

About 10 troops from each side suffered injuries and a series of other incidents followed.

In June, troops from the two sides fought with fists and wooden clubs in the Galwan valley of Ladakh region, leaving at least 20 Indian troops and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers dead.

In June, the Indian army accused the Chinese of using clubs fashioned with barbed wire and nails to beat their troops. The Galwan Valley clash left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead

Prior to June’s deadly skirmish, footage was leaked which purported to show an Indian forces battering a PLA soldier in May 

China and India, who fought a border war in 1962, blame each other for the increased tensions and each has poured tens of thousands of extra troops into border zones.

The latest de-escalation talks between military commanders were held Sunday but there have been no signs that either side is ready to back down.

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said last month that relations between the neighbours had been “significantly damaged” by the events of the past year.

India is also wary of China’s moves to extend its diplomatic muscle into South Asia through massive investment schemes.

The government has sought to block Chinese companies from getting deals in India, banning more than 1
50 Chinese apps made by its tech giants.

Chinese products are being halted in customs logjams at Indian ports. China has in turn warned that India will suffer economically from the dispute.