Galwan Clash. How China is Slowly Chipping Away India's Territory.

Indian T-90 Beeshma Tank ,Ps-Indian Army

Allegedly, the clash was triggered by China violating the June 6 agreement, and setting up a post on its side of the LAC. The dispute started over a Chinese tent that was constructed on Sunday night. Indian troops, according to the sources, tore it down. That was after Indian soldiers discovered that Chinese soldiers had not left an area that they had agreed to leave as part of the de-escalation of last month’s border dispute and had instead build a tent in the area. Now a tent might not seem like that big of a deal but it’s part of a pattern. China has chipped away a territory along the disputed frontier seizing about 60 square kilometers in the past two months. This is part of China’s Salami Slicing Strategy. That is, small takeovers of disputed territory piece by piece until they control the whole salami. This is exactly how they took over more and more of South China sea, only they don’t have to build artificial islands on the China-India border. They can build tents. 

MAXAR Tech. Released the images, which clearly shows encroachment by China.

Also read: How China is Causing Problems for every Country in South-China Sea

Indian officials claim that Chinese soldiers were also using clubs wrapped with barbed wire or studded with nails like the ones in the image below. “Indian Troops battled face-to-face for over four hours in the dark, some falling off clips.” News agency ANI quoting sources that 42 Chinese shoulders have also been killed or seriously injured. Though there is no official number for Chinese casualties and if double the number of Chinese soldiers were killed you can see why the Chinese Communist Party might not want to mention that. Infact China hasn’t said much about the Chinese soldiers who died.

Chinese PLA used Nail-Studed Rods to attack Indian Army.

Also read: Why Indian Soilders did not used Firearms? And What Indian Foreign Minister had to say about Galwan Border Clash?

A US based space technology company MAXAR Technologies have published satellite images which show road construction and the Chinese military resources at the disputed border areas between India and China. The satellite images of military vehicles and tents deployed to help the PLA forces in the altitude region North Gogra. The satellite images show large-scale PLA troops stationed at Kongka pass which China claims as India’s boundary. However It did remained defiant and has said that it’s natural border extend further east towards Lanark pass, the place where Chinese and India patrolling officers had a face-off back in the year 1959. 

China has always had an advantage in Galwan Valley but India too seems better prepared now for any possible incursion. The Indian army engineers have completed a 60 meter bridge over the Galwan river. The same bridge which is said to have triggered aggression, it’s now complete and it will consolidate India hold of the sensitive sector. It will allow Indian infantry to not only swiftly move across the river but also protect a strategic road. The road from darbuk to daulet beg oldie, it’s a 255 km road which is very important and now secured. India has fast-tracked road development at the border in recent years which has resulted better connectivity for Indian forces. Indian government says it will continue to build roads and that upsets China.

One thing that is getting more and more popular in India is the call to boycott Chinese goods, an idea that the Chinese Communist party does not like and suggested India through there national newspaper Economic Times that “India should curb 'boycott China’ voices after border clash.”  The Communist party Seemed to like boycotts last month when Chinese officials suggested that Chinese people could boycott Australian exports. That was after Australia called for an investigation into the origin of the Coronavirus. So far the Indian government does not show any signs of ‘curbing’ the calls for a made-in-china boycott  and there are reports now that the government may actually fast-track the import restrictions on over 300 China made products.

Also read: Boycott China Movement Catching Fire. Best Alternatives to Harmful Chinese Apps.

There is news of some activity along the LAC again. The PLA, Chinese army is conducting large-scale military exercises. It is said to be testing the fire power of its troops in Tibet autonomous region. Dozens of tanks and armed vehicles were seen taking part in the drills here, the theatrics are not stopped. On the Indian side too there’s been some movement. The Indian Air force is moving fighter jets to forward bases. The newly acquired Apache attack helicopter has been deployed in the Ladakh region along with upgraded Mig 29’s. Other critical front line assets like the Sukhoi 30 MPI and the Mirage 2000 and Jaguar fighter jets have also been moved  to advanced positions. Recently T-90 Beeshma was moved to border front from where Chinese highway is not more than 50 kilometers. The outposts are being monitored frequently. Indian forces say that they are fully prepared for any further misadventures. 

As of now both the military troops have decided to disengage characterising mutual consensus, the move hopes to reduce tensions near the LAC and work-out strategies on ground to maintain peace.