Read on Twitter
Today's thread on the India-China situation (1/∞)
An explainer on the India-China border from @SushantSin. "The LAC, in contrast, is only a concept – it is not agreed upon by the two countries, neither delineated on a map or demarcated on the ground." https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/line-of-actual-control-where-it-is-located-and-where-india-and-china-differ-6436436/
. @ajaishukla's report: "troops of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continue consolidating their defences in the Galwan River and Pangong Lake areas, up to three kilometres (km) inside territory that the Indian Army has patrolled and claimed for decades." http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2020/06/echoes-of-kargil-china-intrusion-can.html
PLA "at the mouth of the Galwan River valley at its confluence with the Shyok River are just 1.5km from the DSDBO road. They overlook the road, which winds along the Shyok River valley, and can bring down artillery and missile fire" http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2020/06/echoes-of-kargil-china-intrusion-can.html
"reserve troops were retained in their peacetime locations because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Consequently, there has been a dire shortage of reserve troops to react to the PLA’s multiple intrusions." http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2020/06/echoes-of-kargil-china-intrusion-can.html
"Army headquarters in New Delhi is coming round to the view that top generals in Ladakh have been caught napping. There is growing talk about replacing the corps commander in Leh, and even the northern army commander in Udhampur." http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2020/06/echoes-of-kargil-china-intrusion-can.html
News18 says India is sending reinforcements from Kashmir to Ladakh. 'When asked if this was an intelligence and operational failure, a senior officer said, "China stabbed us in the back. In the middle of a pandemic, this was not expected." ...' https://www.news18.com/news/india/army-sends-reinforcements-from-kashmir-to-ladakh-as-china-tries-to-bully-india-amid-cold-war-with-us-2646959.html
ANI: "... the Chinese side is buying time through talks and using it to build up on its side of the LAC. On the other hand, talks at Commanding Officer & Brigade commander level are taking place on almost daily basis but have not shown any result" https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/china-continues-military-build-along-lac-as-both-sides-holding-talks20200531131326/
In an undated video "the Indian soldiers can be seen hitting the windows of the vehicle with rods and stones in an attempt to intimidate the Chinese. The windows of the vehicle clearly appear bullet proof ... One soldier can be seen lying down injured" https://theprint.in/defence/video-shows-indian-troops-challenging-chinese-in-ladakh-but-army-says-not-authenticated/432732/
Two views on authenticity: @SushantSin says "consensus among people who know" is that the video is accurate. @ananthkrishnan says the pattern of sharing on Weibo suggests a "coordinated leak by the PLA"
https://twitter.com/SushantSin/status/1267084414455934982?s=20 https://twitter.com/ananthkrishnan/status/1267082807710384128?s=20
https://twitter.com/SushantSin/status/1267084414455934982?s=20 https://twitter.com/ananthkrishnan/status/1267082807710384128?s=20
This is the video in question, showing a purported clash between Indian and Chinese troops on what looks like Pangong lake. https://twitter.com/nitingokhale/status/1267072329709846529?s=20
"Chinese social media handles tweeted an undated image showing five Indian security personnel lying on the ground with their feet tied with the PLA soldiers in the frame. It appears to be a recent photograph as... soldiers can be seen wearing a mask." https://theprint.in/defence/more-ladakh-clashes-emerge-as-india-china-tension-turns-into-social-media-battle/432964/
Report by the Press Trust of India, a news agency: "a sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel entered into the Indian side of the de-facto border earlier this month and have been camping in Pangong Tso & Galwan Valley since then" https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-china-bring-in-heavy-weapons-to-bases-near-eastern-ladakh-report-2238383 Puts it at 2,500 troops
No soldier has been killed on the India-China border since 1975, in part thanks to various agreements mechanisms for defusing stand-offs. These seem to be failing. @nitingokhale asks: "the level of violence is new ... How long before bullets fly?" https://twitter.com/nitingokhale/status/1267072354787745792?s=20
The Indian army's response to the video is an almost comically non-denial denial. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/violent-images-india-china-military-standoff-ladakh-viral-social-media-1684024-2020-05-31
DS Hooda, a former commander of India's Northern Command: "There are multiple intrusions, some in areas like Galwan, where there has never been a dispute about the alignment of the LAC." https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/the-interviews-blog/chinese-actions-are-extremely-risky-if-they-adopt-a-more-belligerent-stance-it-could-complicate-a-resolution/
Great reporting by @safwatzgr. '“If this situation continues then our nomads will have to look for other pastures which would be very difficult,” he said. He estimated 1,200-1,500 nomadic families were directly affected by the current stand-off.' https://scroll.in/article/963432/as-india-china-tensions-continue-communities-living-near-the-lac-risk-losing-their-livelihoods
"A soldier (possibly a Chinese trooper) is seen lying on the ground, injured. An Indian uniformed man is seen trying to kick him. Another man in uniform and a bullet-proof jacket protects the injured man" https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/videos-on-twitter-may-hamper-lac-talks-92774
"Chinese Twitter handles [tweeted] an image of badly beaten up and bleeding soldiers, who looked from the Indian Army. Some of them were lying on the ground while others seemed unconscious. Their hands and legs were bound with ropes" https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/videos-on-twitter-may-hamper-lac-talks-92774
!["Chinese Twitter handles [tweeted] an image of badly beaten up and bleeding soldiers, who looked from the Indian Army. Some of them were lying on the ground while others seemed unconscious. Their hands and legs were bound with ropes" https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/videos-on-twitter-may-hamper-lac-talks-92774](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZanTfrXkAEv7we.png "\"Chinese Twitter handles [tweeted] an image of badly beaten up and bleeding soldiers, who looked from the Indian Army. Some of them were lying on the ground while others seemed unconscious. Their hands and legs were bound with ropes\" https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/videos-on-twitter-may-hamper-lac-talks-92774")
Global Times weighs in with usual subtlety. "China doesn't want to see situation where politics leads to economic repercussions, so [India] is advised to always view India-China relations with rational minds instead of ... domestic nationalist sentiment." https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1190096.shtml
