Tawang Face-Off: Tension Rises At Border After Indian & Chinese Troops Clash; Politicians Lash Out Over Security Concerns

Indian and Chinese soldiers on December 9, locked in a tense face-off around the Yangtse area near Tawang, according to an official statement. The clash ended with minor injuries on both sides. Around six Indian soldiers were airlifted to the 151 base hospital in Guwahati's Basistha to be treated for their injuries.

This is the first violent clash between the troops after the June 15, 2020, Galwan Valley clash that claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and left many others injured. Earlier in 2021, troops of both countries had engaged in a brief face-off near Yangtse, but local commanders dissolved the issue. With the Tawang face-off, many politicians and political experts have raised concerns over the border and security concerns that lay on a thin line.

Confrontation And Clashes

The clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh was provoked by the Chinese, who charged the Indian soldiers with spiked clubs and sticks. According to several media reports, the Chinese side was much higher than the numbers on the Indian side, but the Indian soldiers resolutely faced the soldiers from the other end.

The clash ended with both parties suffering 'minor injuries,' and the Indian soldiers were taken to a hospital in Guwahati to receive further treatment. According to the military statement, both sides had immediately disengaged from the area, and the Indian commander posted in the region held a flag meeting with his Chinese counterpart. They have discussed the issue and have restored peace along the border lines.

This, however, is not the first time both sides have clashed along the LAC, and tussles have emerged due to the undefined boundary. A report by India Today quoted a source saying, "In certain areas along the LAC in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh, there are areas of differing perception, wherein both sides patrol the area up to their claim lines. This has been the trend since 2006."

Politicians Hit Out At Ruling Party

Soon after reports of the clash made their way to the masses, the opposition lashed out at the BJP-led government and accused the government of suppressing the border issue, which enabled China to provoke yet another clash. Jairam Ramesh, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary of communications, said the ruling government chooses to remain silent to "protect its political image" despite the wake-up calls in the form of border issues. He tweeted that China's actions were completely unacceptable and that they had the audacity to attack Indian soldiers due to inaction from the Modi government.

भारतीय सेना के शौर्य पर हमें गर्व है।

सीमा पर चीन की हरकतें पूरी तरह से अस्वीकार्य हैं।

पिछले दो साल से हम बार-बार सरकार को जगाने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं, लेकिन मोदी सरकार केवल अपनी राजनीतिक छवि को बचाने के लिए इस मामले को दबाने में लगी है। इससे चीन का दुस्साहस बढ़ता जा रहा है।

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 12, 2022

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also reacted to the incident and tweeted a thread that read, "Our jawans fought in a resolute manner, and some have been injured too. We are one with the nation on the issues of National Security and would not like to politicise it. But the Modi Govt should be honest.."

..about the Chinese transgressions and the construction at all points near the LAC, since April 2020. Govt needs to take the nation into confidence by discussing this issue in Parliament.

We are forever indebted to the valour and sacrifice of our soldiers.
2/2

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 12, 2022

AICC Chairman Pawan Khera also joined in the criticisms and slammed the government by saying, "Whenever the opposition asked questions related to China in the Parliament, the government did not respond, citing national security." Adding on to it, he stated that the government can neither give a clean chit to China nor hide the facts from the country anymore as they deserve to know the truth.

चीनी राष्ट्रपति को झुक कर सलाम करने में और लाल आँख दिखाने में अंतर होता है।
हमला मैप पर हो और जवाबी हमला एप्प पर किया जाये तो वही होता है जो अब हो रहा है: चीन ने अब अरुणाचल पर अपनी बुरी नज़र डाली है।
क्या प्रधान मंत्री अपनी छवि बचाने के लिए फिर से चीन को क्लीन चिट दे देंगे? https://t.co/gxZu6l2wve

— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) December 12, 2022

#China established a new division level headquarters equipped to support their weapons & air defence along #Pangong Lake 👇 #Modi ji, at-least now understand the severity 🙏 pic.twitter.com/qfnwUv8Clo

— YSR (@ysathishreddy) December 12, 2022

Meanwhile, many other politicians conveyed their gratitude and prayers for the speedy recovery of the soldiers who fought with valour. Among them was Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who tweeted, "I salute their valour and pray to God for their speedy recovery."

हमारे जवान देश की शान हैं। उनके शौर्य को मैं सलाम करता हूँ और ईश्वर से उनके जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँ। https://t.co/pqGdjhkoqQ

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2022

The issue would, without doubt, be brought up within the Parliament's next session, and several leaders are set to move adjournment notices in both Houses to discuss the issue. Congress member of Parliament, Manish Tewari, reflected on this and tweeted, "The clash is unfortunate…Chinese military posture and political disposition qua India especially after the 20th Congress of CCP warrants a full discussion in Parliament."

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi also backed this and stated that he would be moving for an adjournment motion on the issue in Parliament by December 13. Owaisi blamed the incident on the "weak political leadership" of the Prime Minister and nudged the government to respond to "What was the cause of the clash? Were shots fired, or was it like Galwan? Why can't the Parliament extend their public support to the soldiers to send a strong message to China?"

The army is capable of giving a fitting reply to the Chinese at any time. It is the weak political leadership under Modi which has led to this humiliation against China. This needs an urgent discussion in Parliament.I will be giving an Adjournment motion tomorrow on this issue.

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) December 12, 2022

A Border That Remains Indefinite

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy was among those who condemned the incident and pressed for action against the provocation. He demanded that India shut down all Chinese companies and inform Indians in China to return. The BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh, Tapir Gao, commented that such repeated "border incidents" along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) would hamper relations between the two countries and that the two governments must work together to resolve the problems.

The Military stated that the differing perception of the line of actual control since 2006 is the root of such clashes. In June 2020, the Indian and Chinese soldiers engaged in violent combat in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh, abutting the Chinese-held Tibetan plateau. Since then, the ties between both countries plummeted significantly and marked tense relations in the coming years.

Also Read: Galwan Clash: A Year On, An Uneasy Calm Prevails At LAC