Since May, tensions in the region have continued to mount. On Monday, at least one officer and two Indian soldiers were killed in a "violent confrontation" with the Chinese army on the disputed border in Ladakh (north), in the Himalayan zone, the Indian army announced on Tuesday 16 June. Tensions in the region, recurring between the two Asian giants, have increased since May.

The Indian army said in a statement that a meeting was underway between senior officers representing the two sides to try to ease the tensions.

China accused India on Tuesday of being responsible for the incident, saying that Indian soldiers had crossed their disputed border twice and "attacked" Chinese soldiers.

"On June 15, Indian troops severely violated the bilateral consensus and crossed the border twice, before engaging in illegal activities and provoking and attacking Chinese soldiers, resulting in a serious physical confrontation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in the press.

Delhi announces victims "on both sides", Beijing does not confirm

New Delhi said three of its soldiers had died in the clashes, which left victims "on both sides". Asked about this, Zhao Lijian said he had no information about possible Chinese victims.

"China and India agree to continue solving bilateral problems through dialogue and consultation," he said. "We once again call on India (...) to control its border troops," added the spokesman for Beijing. "Do not cross the border, do not cause unrest," he said.

The past few weeks have been punctuated by several incidents in this area of ​​the western Himalayas, which however have not caused any casualties so far.

Increasingly frequent confrontations

Confrontations in mountainous areas between Indian and Chinese armies have become more frequent in recent years, which the Trump administration interprets as a sign of increasing Chinese aggressiveness in the region. No bullets have been fired over the disputed border since 1975.

The two Asian giants compete for large portions of territory along their Himalayan border, 3,500 km long, and drawn after their short war in 1962. Indian troops were then quickly defeated by the Chinese army.

With AFP and Reuters

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