In a first, China acknowledges casualties in Galwan; reveals names, details of 4 soldiers who died in clash

China unveiled for the first time, names and detailed stories of four soldiers who died in the border confrontation with India in the Galwan Valley in June 2020.

Key Highlights

• Chinese top military body Central Military Commission awards 4 Chinese soldiers who lost their lives in Galwan clash

• China unveiled for the first time, names and detailed stories of four soldiers who died in the border confrontation with India

• Regimental commander from the PLA Xinjiang Military Command killed

New Delhi: In a first, China has officially acknowledged casualties in Galwan Valley clash which took place in June 2020 and shared details of four soldiers of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who lost their lives.

According to a report by Global Times, China's Central Military Commission recognized five Chinese frontier officers and soldiers stationed in the Karakorum Mountains “for their sacrifice in the border confrontation with India”.

As per the report, regimental commander of PLA’s Xinjiang Military Command was killed in the clash.

PLA's regimental commander killed in Galwan clash

The CMC awarded Qi Fabao, the regimental commander, with the title of “Hero regimental commander for defending the border,” Chen Hongjun with “Hero to defend the border” and first-class merit to Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran.

The GT report also claimed that the Chinese soldiers were attacked with steel tubes, clubs and stones.

Recently, Russian news agency TASS in its article had claimed that at least 45 PLA troops lost their lives in the violent face-off with the Indian Army on the icy heights of the Galwan.

“Chinese and Indian forces clashed in the region in May and June 2020, resulting in at least 20 Indian and 45 Chinese servicemen dead,” the agency said.

45 Chinese soldiers killed: Russian news agency

After the violent clash, several reports quoting intelligence sources surfaced claiming that more than 40 Chinese soldiers had lost their lives in the clash.

American intelligence report last year had said that the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35.

This official acknowledgement from China comes at a time when New Delhi and Beijing are engaged in disengagement at Pangong Tso in the Ladakh region.

After the deadly violence along the LAC, both countries moved large number of battle tanks, armoured vehicles and heavy equipment to the high-altitude areas of eastern Ladakh region.