NEW DELHI: After the Indian Army described the clash with Chinese troops in Sikkim as a “minor face-off”, the Chinese state media claimed no such incident had taken place at all and described as fake news reports in India that soldiers from both sides were injured in the military showdown.
Quoting sources, a Global Times report said there was no record of any such skirmish with the PLA. In Beijing, when asked about the incident at Naku La in Sikkim, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said he had no information to offer on the issue. He said Chinese border troops were committed to upholding peace and tranquillity along the border with India. “We urge the Indian side to work in the same direction with us and refrain from actions that might escalate or complicate the situation. We hope both will take proper actions to manage the differences and take concrete actions to safeguard peace and stability along the border,” he said.
“There have been minor frictions between the frontline forces of the two countries, but if there had been friction involving casualties, it is impossible for them not to be recorded in the Chinese patrol logs,” Global Times said in its report, while recalling the clarification by the Indian Army that the Naku La incident was only a minor face-off.