'Posthumous awards proof of Chinese casualties in Galwan'

New Delhi, Mar 12: India has pointed out the announcement last month made by the Central Military Commission of China posthumously awarding honorary titles and merit citations to Chinese soldiers who were killed in Galwan clash is the proof of casualties in the brutal clash. This statement came after it was asked whether China had suffered the loss of lives in the Galwan Valley clash last year.

 

 

 

MoS Foreign minister V Muraleedharan in a written reply in Parliament stated, "On 19 February 2021, the Central Military Commission of China announced awarding posthumously honorary titles and merit citations to Chinese soldiers. As per the announcement, these titles were awarded for the role of these soldiers in the faceoff at Galwan Valley in June 2020."

 

According to a People’s Daily report, four Chinese soldiers, who “were sacrificed” in the border violence, were posthumously awarded honorary titles and first class merit citations. A colonel, who was injured, was conferred honorary title. Muraleedharan said the government will continue discussions with China to resolve the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh.

 

It was the first time China has acknowledged casualties and details of these officers and soldiers’ sacrifice, four of whom died when dealing with the Indian military’s “illegal trespassing” of the Galwan Valley Line of Actual Control (LAC), the report said.

 

He referred to a statement by Rajnath Singh on February 11 wherein he conveyed that India and China had reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South Bank of the Pangong Lake. The disengagement in Pangong Lake area has been completed.

 

The Minister further added, "Government will continue discussions with the Chinese side to resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh and achieve the objective of disengagement from all friction points and restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China Border Areas at an early date."