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Lesson from the killing of Indian soldiers in Galwan
The inclement weather and height added to the misery of the Indian soldiers as they were killed by the Chinese in a premeditated attack. Pertinently, the Chinese had kept track of the movement of Indian soldiers using drones and were thus able to plan their attack well in advance.
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Protesters take part in an anti-China demonstration near India Gate in New Delhi on June 17, 2020. - India and China agreed on June 17 to ease tensions at their disputed Himalayan border, even as they traded blame for a brawl that left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead. (AFP/Jewel Samad)
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emarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the All-Party meeting on June 19, 2020 have been selectively used by those wanting to misrepresent the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.
The PM clearly stated that “the entire country is hurt and angry at the steps taken by China at LAC”. This is the point on which the entire government and nation are clear, as was made clear by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart that the Chinese side’s “premeditated and planned action” in Galwan Valley was directly responsible for the resulting violence and death of at least 20 Indian soldiers.
China’s coercive diplomacy, aggressive action along the LAC, and its overall attitude on taking responsibility for originating the coronavirus are indications of their current insecurity. More recently, the incident at the valley in eastern Ladakh indicates China’s new aggressiveness.
One has to only read the statement issued on June18 by the External Affairs Ministry (EAM) on the telephonic conversation between Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to understand China’s intent. Jaishankar told Wang Yi of the agreement (June 6) to de-escalate and disengage along the LAC reached during the meeting between senior military commanders.
The EAM stated "Ground commanders were meeting regularly to implement this consensus throughout the last week. While there was some progress, the Chinese side sought to erect a structure in Galwan Valley on our side of the LAC. While this became a source of dispute, the Chinese side took premeditated and planned action which was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties. It reflected an intent to change the facts on the ground in violation of all our agreements to not change the status quo," Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart.
Recall the fact that Indian soldiers had gone to give a message to the Chinese side based on certain agreements arrived at between both sides on June 6. Instead of implementing the agreement, the Chinese side attacked the Indian column with sticks, barbed wire and possibly other sharp weapons.
In the fog of war it is difficult to make out the facts of the incident, but some first-hand interviews of survivors of the hand-to-hand fighting tell a sad story. That the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had pre-planned the assault against Indian troops is evident as they came armed with iron rods as well as batons wrapped in barbed wire. According to Indian survivors interviewed at Leh hospital, Chinese troops hunted down and slaughtered troops of the 16 Bihar Regiment.
