After India recently claimed that 200 Chinese troops had crossed the Line of Actual Control in southern Tibet, two photos leaked on the Chinese internet on Oct. 9. One of them shows a heavily armed PLA column on guard, with a large group of Indians walking in the middle with their heads hanging down and with wounds, numbering at least 30.
In the picture, the Chinese army wears heavy riot helmets and holds steel pipes, while many Indians take off their military caps, with bandages around their necks and faces covered with wounds. Although the timing is unknown, speculation is that it may be related to the conflict in the Galwan Valley that occurred on June 15, 2020.
Following the bloody clashes in the Galwan Valley, the Chinese military claimed four soldiers were killed and one officer was seriously injured, including battalion commander Chen Hongjun, soldiers Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan, Wang Chaoran, and regiment commander Qi Fabao. The Indians, on the other hand, claimed 20 servicemen killed, 76 wounded and 10 captured.
However, judging from the above photos, the number of China-captured Indians was much more than the 10 claimed by the Indian military. And on the night of the clash, some 600 Chinese and Indian troops reportedly attacked each other with rocks, iron bars and other weapons in almost total darkness.
In another photo, the Chinese and Indian troops were looking across the river, with military vehicles with Red Cross symbols appearing on the Indian side, many Indians standing in the water to form a human wall, and several Indians near the Chinese side with stretchers. Apparently, this was a handover with the PLA.
On the Chinese side, several soldiers were counting the Indians’ “Insas” assault rifles on the ground, and several other soldiers were holding cameras, cameras and cell phones to take pictures. These rifles were obviously captured by the Chinese army.
Although the Indians killed Chinese officers and soldiers, the Chinese military has exercised restraint since June 2020 and has not disclosed much about the clashes. But at a time when the Indian army and Indian media are constantly claiming victory, the release of these photos is a “slap in the face”.
After the clashes in the Galwan Valley, both Chinese and Indian forces withdrew from the estuary triangle where the incident occurred, but the PLA has established border companies deep in the rear and stationed many soldiers and equipment to fill the previous defense gap. For their part, the Indians remain entrenched in the lower reaches of the river.
The conflict between India and China on the western front has come to an end, but there has been a renewed standoff in the southern Tibetan region. Indian media said on Oct. 8 that over 200 Chinese soldiers crossed the Line of Actual Control in the southern Tibetan region earlier.
However, due to the usual exaggeration of the Indian media, it is difficult for the outside world to know the exact situation at that time.