China admits 4 PLA soldiers killed in Galwan clash, 10th round of talks today

New Delhi: Amid decreasing tension, China has admitted for the first time that its soldiers were killed in Galvan. Eight months after the biggest military confrontation between the two neighbours in over five decades, China has shared information about the four soldiers killed during the clash in June last year. In this clash, 20 soldiers of India were martyred. China too had admitted casualties of its soldiers but had not yet given the number.

The revelation has come a day before the scheduled 10th round of high-level military talks on Saturday to take forward the disengagement process in Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang in eastern Ladakh. India and China have completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of Pangong lake, sources said on Friday.

China's military authorities have honoured two officers and three soldiers, including four who received the awards posthumously, for defending the country's western border, the official Xinhua news agency reported, quoting The People's Liberation Army Daily, the newspaper of the Chinese military.

Three PLA soldiers were killed in the combat while another soldier died while crossing the icy river when he went to support his army mates, the Xinhua report said.

The title of "border-defending hero" was conferred on Battalion Commander Chen Hongjun posthumously, while Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran received first-class merit. Qi Fabao, who was seriously injured in the skirmish, received the title of "hero regiment commander for defending the border," the Xinhua report said.

However, China is under-reporting the number of PLA soldiers killed in the Galvan Valley. Recently, the Chief of the Northern Command, Lieutenant General YK Joshi had said that at least 45 Chinese soldiers were killed during the skirmish of Galvan valley. The Russian official news agency TASS reported on February 10 that 45 Chinese servicemen were killed in the Galwan Valley clash. According to an American intelligence report last year, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35.

Asked why China chose to reveal the casualties suffered during the Galwan incident after over eight months, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, "the report has been revealed to give the truth to the public because the truth is long awaited and is necessary for the people to know the true story."

China has also released a video, which contains some alleged fragments of the clash. Through this video, China has shown pictures of its soldiers killed, and has blamed India for the clash. It is believed that the manner in which China was forced to retreat after being adamant in Ladakh for months, has led to its disgrace and has joined the propaganda to divert attention from it. In the video, without naming India, China says, in April 2020, the foreign army violated the earlier agreements and crossed the border line and started constructing roads and bridges. China accused India of unilaterally trying to change the status quo, which lead to tension.

Meanwhile, sources said that the tenth round of Corps Commander-level talks are scheduled to start at 10 am at the Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control, and will be the first engagement between the two sides at a senior level after conclusion of the disengagement process in Pangong lake areas.

Sources said pulling back of troops, weapons and other military hardware as well as dismantling of bunkers, tents and temporary structures in north and south banks of Pangong lake were completed on Thursday and both sides have carried out a verification of the same.

"Both sides will also carry out a comprehensive review of the disengagement process in Pangong lake areas," said a source.

Sources indicated that during Saturday's talks, India will insist on a faster disengagement process in remaining areas to bring down tension in the region, which has witnessed a tense standoff between the two militaries for over nine months. The sources said troops of both sides have retreated to positions that were agreed to by both sides. The disengagement process began on February 10.

The Indian delegation at Saturday's talks will be led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps while the Chinese side is expected to be headed by Maj Gen Liu Lin, the commander of the South Xinjiang military district of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry even as the two sides continued military and diplomatic talks.