For the first time after the Galwan valley clash between India and China In June 2020, the Chinese military has unveiled the names and detailed stories of four soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who died n the border confrontation with India.
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, the regimental commander of PLA’s Xinjiang Military Command was killed in the clash.
"Chen Hongjun, Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan, and Wang Zhuoran died a fierce struggle" against "foreign troops" that violated an agreement and crossed into the Chinese side, Reuters reported citing Chinese media reports.
Chen was posthumously awarded the title of "Guardian of the Frontier Hero," while the other three men were also given first-class merit citations, Reuters report added.
This is the first time China has acknowledged casualties during the Galwan valley clash.
According to reports, the Global Times also alleged that the Chinese soldiers were attacked with steel tubes, clubs, and stones.
The Galwan valley clash
A Russian news agency has claimed that at least 45 PLA troops had lost their lives in the violent face-off on June 15 last year at the Galwan Valley.
China has never publicly declared the number of casualties they suffered in the clash which resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers. “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, TASS, said in its article.
Indian and Chinese troops have begun disengagement on the southern and northern banks of Pangong Tso.