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Indian Army: Indian, Chinese Troops Face Off Along Border

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in a fresh clash
   last week along their disputed border in the eastern Himalayas
   according to the Indian army. China has not confirmed the incident.

   The latest scuffle took place amid a tense eight-month long standoff
   between their militaries and indicates that the border between the
   Asian giants will continue to be volatile, say analysts.

   In a statement, the Indian army called the incident that took place on
   Wednesday at Naku La in North Sikkim a "minor face-off" and said that
   it "was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols."

   Media reports in India said that soldiers from both sides sustained
   injuries in the brawl which took place when Indian troops blocked a
   Chinese patrol from intruding into Indian territory. The army said that
   the media should "refrain from overplaying or exaggerating reports."

   In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said he
   had "no information to offer" on the incident. But he urged India to
   exercise restraint and take proper actions to manage their differences.

   "I would like to stress though that China's border troops are committed
   to upholding peace and tranquility along the border with India. We urge
   the Indian side to work in the same direction as us and refrain from
   actions that might escalate or complicate the situation along the
   border," Zhao told a regular news briefing.

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