China ordered attack on Indian troops, says US Intel

According to the US intelligence report, General Zhao Zongqi, head of the Western Theater Command approved the operation along the border region of northern India in which at least 20 Indian and 35 Chinese troops died, and reportedly a handful on each side was captured and subsequently released.

Washington: Days after denial by the Chinese defence officials over the deadly Sino-Indo standoff, a report by the US intelligence pointedly said that senior Chinese general authorised his force to charge against the Indian troops in the Galwan valley which resulted in a deadly confrontation between India and China.

According to the source familiar with the assessment, General Zhao Zongqi, head of the Western Theater Command, approved the operation along the border region of northern India. The standoff was observed as a method taken up by China to 'teach India a lesson'.

The clash high in the Himalayas between the world’s two most populated countries claimed at least 20 Indian and 35 Chinese troops died, and reportedly a handful on each side were captured and subsequently released. It was the worst violence since 1962 when a war over competing claims on the remote Himalayan area ended with an uneasy truce.

An Indian army convoy moves on the Srinagar- Ladakh highway

Although Beijing tried to send a message of strength to India the tense situation went out of control and the plan backfired resulting in widespread anger among the Indian against China.

In South Asia, the sides have been engaged in a very complex dance along the line of actual control since early May. That has fanned anti-Chinese sentiments already running high due to Beijing’s opposition to India’s decision in August to revoke the statehood and semi-autonomy of Kashmir, parts of which are claimed by both Pakistan and China, and split it into two territories governed by New Delhi.

The confrontation in the Galwan Valley, part of the disputed Ladakh region along the Himalayan frontier, was the deadliest between the two countries in 45 years. India blames China for instigating the fight by developing infrastructure in the valley, which it said was a breach of the agreement of what area remained in dispute.

India and China in June agreed to disarmament and a mutual withdrawal from the region, in this clash both sides have accused each other of shipping in and set up equipment required for a military campaign. China has also accused India of building infrastructure in areas Beijing claims as its own.

The leaders of the two nations

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a statement Friday that 'the Galwan Valley is located on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in the west section of the China-India boundary.'

He blamed incursions by Indian troops in the area from early May for a midnight clash on Monday that left 20 Indian soldiers dead. China has not said whether it suffered any casualties.

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.

The United States has accused China of escalating border tension with India and other neighbours by trying to take benefit of these countries busy fighting coronavirus pandemic. Washington is talking to both India and China to help them resolve their ongoing border tensions.