Indian and Chinese troops were involved in another brawl on their contestedHimalayan border, leaving injuries on both sides, military officials saidon Monday.
The fighting on January 20 came six months after a pitched battlelink which left at least 20 Indian troopsdead as well as an unknown number of Chinese casualties.
The world’s two most populous nations have since become embroiled in adiplomatic showdown over their geographical and political differences.
The Indian military played down the latest skirmish as a “minor face-off”at Naku La pass, which connects Sikkim state with Tibet on the Chinese side.
A short statement said the tensions were “resolved by local commanders asper established protocols”. Four Indian troops were injured when a Chinesepatrol was forced back, government sources said.
They added that China’s People’s Liberation Army suffered an unknown numberof casualties.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said he didn’thave anything to offer on the incident but urged India to exerciserestraint.
“I would like to stress though that China’s border troops are committed toupholding peace and tranquillity along the border with India. We urge theIndian side to work in the same direction as us and refrain from actionsthat might escalate or complicate the situation along the border,” he tolda regular news briefing.
“We hope both sides will take proper actions to manage their differencesand take concrete actions to safeguard peace and stability along theborder.”
The incident has highlighted the increasingly fraught state of India-Chinarelations. Details were released on the eve of India’s Republic Day, whenthe country shows off its latest military hardware at a parade in thecapital.
Hand-to-hand fighting between 150 soldiers from the two sides at Naku La inMay last year set off the latest frontier tensions between the world’s twomost populous nations.
About 10 troops from each side suffered injuries and a series of otherincidents followed.
In June, troops from the two sides fought with fists and wooden clubs inthe Galwan valley of Ladakh region, leaving dozens dead. China has neverconfirmed it suffered fatalities.
China and India, who fought a border war in 1962, blame each other for theincreased tensions and each has poured tens of thousands of extra troopsinto border zones.
The latest de-escalation talks between military commanders were held onSunday but there have been no signs that either side is ready to back down.
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said last month thatrelations between the neighbours had been “significantly damaged” by theevents of the past year.
India is also wary of China’s moves to extend its diplomatic muscle intoSouth Asia through massive investment schemes.
The government has sought to block Chinese companies from getting deals inIndia, banning more than 150 Chinese apps made by its tech giants.
Chinese products are being halted in customs logjams at Indian ports. Chinahas in turn warned that India will suffer economically from the dispute.