Scores of Indian social media users have raised questions over the veracity of a video shared by a Chinese state media journalist, in which a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) trooper can be seen arguing with Indian soldiers at a border location.
Sharing the video on Twitter on Friday, China Global Television Network (CGTN)
producer Shen Shiwei identified the Chinese soldier in the video as PLA
Xinjiang Command’s regimental commander Qi Fabao, who is one of the five
troopers given a gallantry award by the Central Military Commission for
fighting Indian troops during the Galwan Valley clash in June last year.
However, the claim has been disputed by Indian social media users on several
counts, including the location of the said video, as well as the time when it
was taken. Several social media users claim that the terrain depicted in the
video is that of the Sikkim-China border and not that of Galwan Valley, which
lies on the western stretch of the Sino-India boundary line.
Several other Indian netizens also pointed out that the video had been making
the rounds on YouTube months before the Galwan Valley incident took place, or
even before the ongoing standoff between the two Asian militaries began in May
last year.
Beijing has honoured four of its dead soldiers with posthumous gallantry
awards sacrificing their lives in the June border flare-up. Qi Fabao, the PLA
commander in the disputed video, has also been honoured for “organising” the
Chinese troop contingent that clashed with the Indian Army, Global Times
reported on Friday.
“When facing more Indian soldiers appearing from nearby mountains, while
reproaching the Indian military for destroying the agreement, Qi organized
Chinese soldiers to move into combat formations and engage in any
confrontation. The Indian military then started to attack the Chinese soldiers
by using steel tubes, cudgels and throwing stones. Qi was under heavy attack
and sustained a serious head injury”, said the Global Times report.
On its part, India admitted to suffering 20 casualties in the Galwan Valley
incident immediately after the clashes took place last year.
The announcement by China came amid the ongoing disengagement process between
the two militaries at the disputed points in eastern Ladakh. The troops from
the countries have already vacated the area around the
Pangong Tso Lake, as per the two governments.
On Saturday, military commanders from the two countries met at the border
Moldo hut to discuss the disengagement plan at other friction points,
including Gogra, Hot Springs, and Depsang Plains, all lying near the Pangong
Tso Lake.