Sunday, 21 June 2020

India-China live updates 21 June 2020

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India-China Live: Indian Army changes rules of engagement on LAC with China

India-China Live: Indian Army changes rules of engagement on LAC with China
The Rules of Engagement have been changed and the field commanders have been empowered to order troops to use firearms under extraordinary circumstances, army sources said.
10:21 PM

Congress poses 5 questions to Centre over India-China border situation

  • The Congress asked: "Is it not correct that China has never claimed Galwan Valley as its territory? Is it also not correct that China has now committed brazen transgressions into Galwan Valley?"
  • In another question, Sibal wanted to know why the government is denying "brazen Chinese transgression" while quoting the statement of Security Experts, Army Generals & Satellite Imagery depicting Chinese intrusion into Pangong Tso Lake upto nearly 8 Kms, construction of over 60 permanent structures, including bunkers and boat pads & occupation up to Finger 4.
  • "Why did the PM tell the All-Party Meeting that "no one intruded into our territory"? Why did PMO delete these words from the official statement? And if 'no one intruded into our territory', how did our 20 soldiers die? How were 85 jawans seriously injured and how were 10 officers and jawans captured by the Chinese? Why does the statement of the External Affairs Ministry dated June 20th, 2020, contradict the PM's statement on incursions by the Chinese?" he asked.
  • "Why is PM denying his own Defence Minister and EAM Statement that Chinese have sought to "erect structure in the Galwan Valley on our side"? Why is PM refuting the statement of Raksha Mantri on "Chinese presence in large numbers" and EAM's statement that we seek to restore "status quo ante"?" the former minister asked.
10:02 PM

Army given full freedom to deal with China: MoS Kishan Reddy

  • The Army has been given "full freedom" in dealing with China and protecting India's territory and its men in the backdrop of the border faceoff in Ladakh, Union Minister of State for Home GKishanReddy said on Sunday.
  • Speaking after meeting family members of slain Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, who along with 19 other soldiers were killed in the recent fierce clash in Galwan Valley, he also said a deep anti-China sentiment was on the rise in the country and there was a need to voluntarily boycott Chinese products tothe extent possible.
09:39 PM

Govt grants emergency financial powers to three services

  • The government has granted the three services emergency financial powers of up to Rs 500 crore per procurement project to buy ammunition and weapons in view of the escalating border standoff with China, government sources said Sunday.
  • The special financial powers have been given to the forces to procure weapons and military hardware at short notice to enhance their operational preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), they said.
  • The government has also relaxed certain rules to cut delays in military purchase like allowing the three services to procure required weapons and equipment from a single vendor, the sources said.
09:06 PM

Congress questions PM Modi

08:40 PM

CAIT seeks 'country of origin' info on all products sold through e-commerce portals

  • Trader's body CAIT has urged Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to make it mandatory for every e-commerce portal to mention 'country of origin' on each product sold at their platforms so that buyers can make an informed decision.
  • Most e-commerce portals are selling Chinese goods, about which the consumer remains unaware, said the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which has launched a campaign for boycott of Chinese goods.

08:06 PM

Shiromani Akali Dal slams Punjab CM for statements aimed at 'inflaming passions'

  • The SAD on Sunday accused Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh of “undermining” the Government of India with his statements aimed at “inflaming passions” and asked him to leave soldiering to the Army.
  • Following the death of 20 Indian soldiers in a violent clash with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, the CM had questioned the Centre on why no orders were given to fire at the Chinese in the face of such a brutal attack and also said the Government of India's policy should be, “if they kill one of ours, we should kill five of theirs.”
  • Singh had also urged the Centre to change its policy to allow soldiers at the borders to open fire in their own defence and for protecting the nation's territorial integrity.
07:55 PM

Opposition MPs demand Par panel meeting, briefing by foreign secretary on Galwan incident

  • A meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs should be called at the earliest and briefed by the foreign secretary, defence secretary and other top officials on the violent faceoff with China in which 20 Indian soldiers died, several panel members from the opposition parties said on Sunday.
  • However, panel members from the ruling party termed the demand an act of politics and said it wouldn't be feasible to call the meeting when the country is grappling with the coronavirus crisis.
  • The committee is chaired by former Union Minister and BJP MP PP Chaudhary.
07:50 PM

Narendra Modi's LAC comments 'endorsed Chinese position', says Congress

Stepping up the offensive against the government on the Ladakh standoff, the Congress on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "endorsed the Chinese position" by saying that there was no intrusion into Indian territory.
07:25 PM

Govt seeks product-wise details from industry to curb cheap, low quality imports from China: Sources

  • The government has sought product-wise details of cheap imports, comparison with domestic prices and tax disadvantage, if any, from industry to curb low-quality inbound shipments especially from China and boost domestic manufacturing, sources said.
  • They said a high level meeting to discuss ways to promote Atma Nirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India), including cut in import dependence from China, also took place recently in the Prime Minister's office.
  • Industry was asked to send comments and suggestions on certain number of goods and raw materials imported from China, which include wrist watches, wall clocks, ampoules, glass rods and tubes, hair cream, hair shampoos, face powder, eye and lip make up preparations, printing ink, paints and varnishes, and some tobacco items, one of the sources said.
07:13 PM

Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi over Ladakh

  • Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the violent face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley last week, pointing to satellite images of the disputed region to claim that China had "captured Indian territory near Pangong Lake".
  • Gandhi said the photos "clearly" contradicted the Prime Minister who, during Friday's all-party meeting on the India-China tension, was quoted as saying that "neither is anyone inside our territory nor is any of our post captured".

06:28 PM

Army changes rules of engagement on LAC with China, empowers field commanders to allow use of firearms under 'extraordinary' circumstances

  • After an incident of the violent face-off with China in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army has changed its rules of engagement on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which would allow field commanders to order troops to use firearms under "extraordinary" circumstances.
  • The Rules of Engagement have been changed and the field commanders have been empowered to order troops to use firearms under extraordinary circumstances, army sources said.
  • The Indian side is expected to discuss the issue with the Chinese Army during the proposed talks at Corps Commander level to defuse the tensions in Eastern Ladakh.
06:04 PM

Protest against China

People stage a protest against Chinese President Xi Jinping over the killing of 20 Indian army soldiers in Ladakh's Galwan valley by the Chinese troops, in Bhopal. (PTI)
Protest against China
05:14 PM

Defence forces get powers to buy critical weapons, reports ANI

  • "The Vice Chiefs of the three services have been given the financial powers upto Rs 500 crore per project to acquire the required weapon systems under fast track procedures needed to fill whatever shortcomings or requirement is felt," a senior government official told ANI.
05:02 PM

China’s brazen transgressions into India’s territory in the Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso Lake Area and Hot Springs cannot be accepted. Our territorial integrity will not be compromised under any circumstances. We will repulse every sinister design of China.

- Kapil Sibal, Congress leader
04:57 PM

Kapil Sibal questions Modi

04:21 PM

Rajnath briefs CDS, service chiefs on LAC before Russia visit

  • Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday held detailed discussions with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and all three service chiefs on the India-China border standoff in eastern Ladakh in the backdrop of the recent clash between troops of the two countries that led to the killing of 20 Indian soldiers.
  • In the over half-hour discussion at his residence, Singh reportedly suggested to the CDS and the three service chiefs to be "fully prepared" to take any unprecedented action as per the situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in view of the ongoing situation in Ladakh. It is learnt that the Army has been advised by the Defence Minister to be very cautious during patrol duty and enhance strict vigil at the border with China.
  • The other two forces have been asked to keep proper observation on land and sea lanes. The minister also discussed some critical defence deals which are expected to be inked during his visit to Russia. Singh's meeting took place ahead of his June 24 visit to Russia where he will witness the Victory Day Military Parade being organised in Moscow on the 75th anniversary of the Russia victory in World War II.
03:28 PM

China faceoff unlikely to impact India's Covid-19 fight

  • The Galwan Valley faceoff with China is unlikely to affect India’s Covid-19 fight as all the essentials, from safety gears to testing products, are now being manufactured indigenously, reducing the dependence on Chinese imports to almost nil, medical experts have said.
  • From polyester swab sticks and viral transport medium to testing kits and personal protective equipment – India is now self-sufficient, they said.
  • Over the last three months, the Centre has actively encouraged companies to start manufacturing products that they had never produced before, or scale up production manifold.
03:22 PM

Husain Dalwai seeks clarification from Centre over China's claim about Galwan valley

  • Congress leader Husain Dalwai on Sunday sought clarification from the Central government over China's claim about Galwan valley in Ladakh.
  • Speaking to ANI Dalwai said that there is no doubt that Galwan valley is India's but America is saying that China has encroached a big part of the area. "So what is the actual matter? it should come out," he asked. "Our 20 Army personnel were killed and the government should investigate who sent them there without arms and ammunition. It is very important to enquire about that. America is saying that China has encroached a big part of Galwan valley so the actual matter should come out. That's what I think," Dalwai said.
02:59 PM

Armed forces told to forcefully deal with Chinese aggression

  • Armed forces have been given "full freedom" in giving "befitting" reply to any Chinese aggressive behaviour.
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting with Chief of Defence Staff, Army Chief, Navy Chief and Air Chief.
  • Singh told the top military brass to maintain strict vigil on Chinese activities around land border, airspace and in strategic sea lanes, and asked them to adopt a "tough" approach in dealing with any misadventure by Chinese forces
02:50 PM

CDS, three service chiefs meet Rajnath Singh, review Ladakh situation

  • Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and the 3 service chiefs met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday. The current situation in Ladakh was reviewed at the meeting held today.
  • The meeting took place ahead of Singh's visit to Russia.
  • The Defence Minister is scheduled to depart for Moscow, Russia tomorrow to witness Victory Day Military Parade on June 24.
  • Singh will take part in the 75th anniversary of the Russia victory in the World War II Military Parade on June 24.
02:30 PM

An Army Helicopter made a precautionary landing in Eastern Ladakh area today

02:28 PM

China observes International Yoga Day with low-key events due to COVID-19, standoff with India

  • The International Yoga Day was celebrated in China on Sunday with low-key events owing to the coronavirus pandemic and the military standoff at the Line of Actual Control.
  • China, where Yoga has been very popular, usually celebrates the occasion with numerous events ever since its inception by the United Nations in 2014.
  • This year, the main event was held at the India House where Indian Ambassador Vikram Misri led International Yoga Day (IYD) celebration, with the participation of Indian, foreign diplomats and their families.
01:45 PM

Armed forces told to forcefully deal with Chinese aggression along LAC

  • The armed forces deployed along the 3,500-km de-facto border with China have been given "full freedom" in giving "befitting" reply to any Chinese aggressive behaviour, government sources said after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting with top military brass on the situation in eastern Ladakh.
  • The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. The sources said Singh told the top military brass to maintain strict vigil on Chinese activities around land border, airspace and in strategic sea lanes, and asked them to adopt a "tough" approach in dealing with any misadventure by Chinese forces.
  • Indian and Chinese armies have been on a six-week standoff in several areas of eastern Ladakh. The ties between the two countries came under severe strain after Chinese military killed 20 Indian Army personnel and injured around 76 in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15.
01:35 PM

Additional 2,000 ITBP troops may be sent to Sino-India border

  • About 2,000 additional troops of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) may be sent to forward locations along the Sino-India border to strengthen vigil amid the standoff between the Indian Army and Chinese troops in Ladakh.
  • The ITBP personnel, currently engaged in different duties in various parts of the country, is being requisitioned in view of the prevailing situation in Ladakh.
01:15 PM

If orders come, we are ready to fight: Army veterans

  • Even as India has made it clear that Chinese have not entered the Indian territory or captured any posts, on the ground in Ladakh, the veterans and porters who have stood to external aggressions in the past say if need be they are ready to fight for the country at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
  • In Ladakh veterans who played a pivotal role in the previous escalations with China and Pakistan are reminiscing about the times gone by. They say they may not be in service anymore but their passion to serve the country remain strong as ever.
  • Ladakhis have scripted stories of bravery and valour fighting as regular soldiers or as volunteers helping to move materials on the mountain tops and stand against the adversary be it the Indo-China war of 1962 or the Kargil conflict of 1999.
01:03 PM

Army told to ensure strict vigil on Chinese activities

01:01 PM

India to adopt a different tactical approach in guarding border with China henceforth: Sources after defence minister's review meeting

01:01 PM

Armed forces given full freedom to deal with any aggressive behaviour by China's PLA

12:47 PM

High-level meeting underway on Ladakh face-off

12:30 PM

China likely lost at least 40 soldiers in border clash: Gen V.K.Singh

  • China lost at least 40 soldiers in a clash with India at their disputed border this week, a federal government minister has said, as the nuclear-armed countries remained locked in confrontation on the frontline on Sunday.
  • China has not said anything about any losses in the hand-to-hand combat that took place in the heavily contested Galwan Valley in the western Himalayas, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed and at least 76 injured.
  • "If 20 were martyred on our (Indian) side, then there would have been at least double the casualties on their (China) side," V.K.Singh, the minister for roads and transport, told TV News24 in an interview broadcast late on Saturday.
  • Singh, who is a former army chief, did not provide any evidence to support his statement. He said China historically never accepted any war casualties including in the 1962 conflict with India.
  • China's state controlled Global Times said earlier there had been casualties on the Chinese side but did not elaborate.
  • Singh said the Indian side had handed over Chinese troops who had strayed into Indian territory after the violent standoff.
12:12 PM

Narendra Modi is actually 'Surender' Modi: Rahul

  • Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched his sharpest attack on the Prime Minister, calling him "Sur(r)ender Modi" instread of Narendra Modi and accused him of conceding Indian territory to the Chinese.
  • Gandhi tweeted,"Narendra Modi Is actually Surender Modi" The Congress leader went a step ahead from his Saturday's lash out when he had said that Modi has surrendered Indian territory to the Chinese aggression, a day after the Prime Minister asserted that Chinese troops did not intrude into Indian territory.
  • The verbal lashing has been on ever since 20 Indian soldiers, including an officer, were killed in an unprecedented violent face-off between Chinese PLA troops in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on June 15.
  • However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office had clarified on Saturday and countered opposition's attack, saying "attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation" to Modi's remarks at the All-Party Meeting held on Friday on the Galwan stand-off.
Narendra Modi is actually 'Surender' Modi: Rahul
11:48 AM

People in Jammu buy 'Boycott China' face masks

  • After a face-off with China, people in Jammu have decided to boycott Chinese goods. On Sunday people were seen buying indigenously manufactured 'Boycott China' face masks to fight coronavirus.
  • "After Galwan valley clash with China,'Boycott China' masks are in huge demand, said Amit, a shop owner in Srinagar said while speaking to ANI.
  • "I have got masks imprinted with favourite characters of my children. At least they will wear it happily," said a customer.
  • Notably, some of the masks also have slogans like "Boycott Made in China" and "Boycott Red China, Buy Made In India."
10:59 AM

Rahul takes a jibe at Modi

10:51 AM

We also released detained Chinese troops, Patrol Point 14 still under India’s control

- Gen V K Singh, Union Minister
10:35 AM

Chinese social media sites delete PM Modi's speech

  • Indian embassy officials in Beijing have said the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chief ministers on June 18 as well as the comments by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been deleted from two Chinese social media accounts, including Weibo.
  • The move comes in the backdrop of the violent face-off between the Indian and Chinese armies in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday in which 20 Indian military personnel were killed, significantly escalating the already volatile situation in the region.
  • Indian Embassy officials said the transcript of the remarks of the MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava were found to have been removed from the Embassy's account of Sina Weibo on June 18.
  • After that the Indian officials re-published the screen shots of Srivastava's comments on June 19.
  • Sina Weibo which is similar to Twitter in China has millions of users and all embassies in Beijing besides several world leaders including Prime Minister Modi have opened their accounts to interact with the Chinese people.
10:16 AM

Army ‘holding’ clash area, PLA blocking 8km Pangong stretch

  • There is still lack of clarity about the exact ground situation in the Galwan Valley region of eastern Ladakh. But sources in the Army say Chinese soldiers have built — since early May — dozens of new fortifications and bunkers after physically occupying an almost 8km stretch in what India considers to be its territory along Pangong Tso. These sources acknowledge that Chinese troops have also taken control of the heights to dominate the ‘Finger-4 to 8’ (mountainous spurs) area on the north bank of Pangong Tso, adroitly utilising the time when bilateral military talks were underway on troop confrontations at Patrolling Points 14, 15 and 17 in the Galwan Valley and Gogra-Hot Springs areas.
09:53 AM

Yoga at India-China border

09:49 AM

US talking to India and China, will try and help them out: Trump

  • The United states is talking to both India and China to help them resolve their ongoing border tensions, President Donald Trump said on Saturday.
  • “It's a very tough situation. We're talking to India. We're talking to China. They've got a big problem there,” Trump told reporters at the White House before boarding Marine 1 on his way to his first post-COVID19 election rally in Oklahoma.
  • “They've come to blows, and we'll see what happens. We'll try and help them out,” Trump said when asked about his assessment of the situation between India and China.
  • Over the past few days, the entire Trump Administration has rallied behind India against the illegitimate incursions of the Chinese Army into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.
09:25 AM

Unusual activity by China air force detected: IAF chief

  • India has detected unusual movement of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) along the border in Ladakh and put in place its own strategy to respond to any contingency, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said on Saturday. In Hyderabad for the combined graduation day parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, he said the Indian Air Force (IAF) was aware of China’s air bases and the deployment along the LAC. “During summer, there are usual exercises. But at this time, we have noticed more than usual deployment. We have taken necessary action,” he said while explaining why IAF had moved its aircraft to forward air bases.
09:22 AM

ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) personnel perform yoga at Khardung La

09:10 AM

ITBP personnel of Animal Training School on yoga day

09:07 AM

Pakistan violates ceasefire in J-K's Poonch

  • Pakistan on Sunday initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote sector of Poonch district.
  • The ceasefire violation by Pakistan took place at 6.15 am.A befitting reply is being given by the Indian Army, officials said.
  • On Saturday, Pakistan violated ceasefire in Nowshera Sector of Rajouri district.
08:30 AM

ITBP personnel in Sikkim Himalayas on yoga day

08:18 AM

IAF is "well prepared" and "suitably deployed" to counter any security challenge along the border with China: Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria

08:18 AM

Chinese 'untenable' claim of sovereignty over Galwan Valley not acceptable: India

India on Saturday categorically rejected China's claim of sovereignty over Galwan Valley, asserting that attempts by the neighbouring country to "advance exaggerated and untenable" claims are "not acceptable", even as militaries of the two countries remained locked in a bitter standoff in several areas of eastern Ladakh.
08:18 AM

Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur districts on high alert: Jairam Thakur

  • Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Saturday said that Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts are on "high alert".
  • "Although there is nothing to worry about but some isolated incidents took place earlier in which China's helicopters entered Himachal Pradesh. We reported this to Union Home and Defence Ministries," Thakur said.
  • Thakur further said that an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh will be provided to the family of Sepoy Ankush Thakur from Hamirpur who lost his life in the violent face-off with China in Galwan Valley.
  • "His sacrifice and valour will always be remembered," Thakur said.
08:17 AM

Ready to deal with any situation along LAC in Ladakh: IAF Chief Bhadauria

The Indian Air Force is well aware of China's air activities including about its airfields, operational bases and deployment in Tibet, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said as a deadly clash between troops of the two countries in eastern Ladakh triggered fears of a fresh confrontation.
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