4 killed in Galwan clash, says China; releases visuals of fight

China has for the first time officially commented on its casualties in the clash at Galwan last June. Its national media reported that four soldiers were killed and a colonel was seriously injured in the hand to hand fighting on the border. Twenty Indian soldiers, including a colonel, had died in the clash.

State owned PLA daily reported that the Chinese Central Military Commission has posthumously awarded honorary titles and first-class merit citations to four soldiers and a colonel who led them during the clash. The Chinese media for the first time also released visuals believed to be of the Galwan clash.

A video showed scores of soldiers engaged in a hand to hand combat in pitch darkness along the riverbank. A PLA soldier was on the ground with serious head injuries and a number of Indian soldiers were seen wading across the water. India has not made public any video or photo of the incident on the night of June 15, 2020.

The Chinese video and its official casualty figure have been publicized days after Northern Army Commander Lt Gen YK Joshi made detailed comments on the Galwan clash, suggesting that the Chinese fatal casualties could be over 45.

The visuals have been released a day before the tenth round of corps commander level talks are set to begin at Moldo border meeting point on Saturday. Disengagement at flashpoints of Depsang and Gogra are scheduled to be discussed at the meeting.

“The Central Military Commission awarded Qi Fabao, the regimental commander from the PLA Xinjiang Military Command, the title of ‘Hero regimental commander for defending the border’, Chen Hongjun with ‘Hero to defend the border’ and awarded first-class merit to Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran,” the Global Times reported. Chinese media blamed India for triggering the clash, alleging that Indian troops ‘crossed’ LAC. India has maintained that China attempted to alter the status quo and carried out a premeditated attack on its soldiers who had gone to the Galwan valley to verify a planned withdrawal as part of a pact.