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China-India border dispute
ChinaDiplomacy

China-India border clash in June left four Chinese dead, one injured, report reveals

  • Previously unknown details of deadliest encounter in over 40 years released as five soldiers honoured for their role
  • PLA newspaper report says Indian troops ambushed the men on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control

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A still from a video, apparently released by China’s military, showing the brutal clash between Chinese and Indian troops in June last year. Photo: Handout
Mimi Lau

China has for the first time revealed that four of its soldiers were killed, and one seriously wounded, in last year’s Himalayan border clash with India.

Previously unknown details of the violent brawl, which broke out between PLA and Indian troops in the Galwan Valley in June, were also made public, in a PLA Daily newspaper report on Friday detailing honours awarded to the five soldiers.

01:31

China shares video of deadly 2020 border clash with Indian troops in Galwan Valley

China shares video of deadly 2020 border clash with Indian troops in Galwan Valley

According to the report, which blamed India for the casualties without naming it, the deadly encounter was sparked by Indian troops crossing to the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control between the two countries in the remote region.

Until now, it had only been confirmed that at least one Chinese soldier was killed in the encounter, which also left at least 20 Indians dead. Many of the Indian soldiers were said to have died from their injuries because they could not get treatment in time in the remote and high-altitude location.

The five PLA soldiers were described by the Central Military Commission as “heroes defending the border”, according to the report.

01:59

Death toll rises to 20 in border clash between India and China

Death toll rises to 20 in border clash between India and China

Qi Fabao, the regimental commander from the PLA Xinjiang Military Command, who survived the incident, was given a hero award, along with battalion commander Chen Hongjun, who was honoured posthumously. Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran were posthumously given first-class merit awards.

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