Defence Minister Tuesday accused China of making an attempt to “unilaterally change the status quo” on their disputed Himalayan border final week when clashes left troops on either side injured.

The incident is considered essentially the most severe on the nuclear-armed Asian giants’ disputed frontier since 2020, when 20 Indian troops and 4 Chinese troopers died in brawling.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed in parliament that Indian and Chinese troops engaged within the recent confrontation on December 9 within the northeastern Indian state Arunachal Pradesh.

Also Read | No Indian soldier killed, PLA retreated in India-China border clash: Rajnath Singh tells Lok Sabha

China and India fought a full-scale conflict in 1962 over management of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims in its entirety and considers a part of Tibet.

“On 09 December 2022, PLA troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo by encroaching on the Line of Actual Control, in the Yangtse area of Tawang sector,” Singh mentioned, referring to China’s People’s Liberation Army and the de-facto border.

The face-off, which adopted latest joint US-India navy workouts close to the border that angered Beijing, led to “injuries to soldiers on both sides”, Singh added.

“A scuffle ensued in this face-off. The Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from encroaching on our territory, and forced them to withdraw to their posts. Some soldiers from both sides were injured in the skirmish.”

Also learn | China military says Indian troops ‘illegally’ crossed border

A navy supply advised AFP that no less than six Indian troopers had been injured.

In Beijing, PLA Western Theatre Command spokesman Long Shaohua claimed Indian troops had “illegally crossed the Line (of Actual Control)” and “obstructed” Chinese border patrol troops.

“Our response measures were professional, standard and forceful, and stabilised the situation on the ground. At present, China and India have disengaged,” mentioned Long, in response to a publish on the PLA’s official WeChat account.

“We ask the Indian side to strictly control and restrain front-line troops, and work with China to maintain peace and tranquility on the border,” he added.

Chinese international ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin mentioned earlier Tuesday that the state of affairs was “stable overall”, however gave no particulars of what occurred or whether or not Chinese troops had been injured.

He added that the 2 sides “maintained unobstructed dialogue on the border issue through diplomatic and military channels.”

Singh added that native commanders from either side held a flag assembly on December 11 and the incident was mentioned.

Read | IAF closely monitoring situation along LAC in Arunachal Pradesh

Singh added that within the newest incident “none of our soldiers have died, nor has anyone been seriously injured”.

The navy supply mentioned that there was one other “face-off” between Indian and Chinese troops within the final week of November within the Demchok area of Ladakh, to the northwest, close to the place the June 2020 incident came about.

It was unclear if there have been any accidents ensuing from that incident, which was essentially the most severe since September 2020.

The military supply mentioned that there had been elevated exercise in Ladakh by the Chinese navy, in addition to a “possible” airspace violation by the Chinese air pressure in the identical space.

This follows joint navy workouts that irked Beijing final month between India and the United States within the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, which borders China.

The Chinese troopers additionally displayed a banner objecting to the Indo-US navy workouts, the supply mentioned.

Even earlier than the June 2020 conflict, India was shifting strategically nearer to the West, deepening safety cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia within the Asia-Pacific area.

United by their concern about China’s growing affect within the area, the nations make up the so-called Quad alliance.