India-China standoff: India refutes China’s LAC accusations, says PLA fired warning shots in the air

India said it is committed to disengagement and de-escalating the situation on the LAC but “China continues to undertake provocative activities to escalate.”

New Delhi: India on Tuesday dismissed Chinese claims that Indian Army fired “warning shots” near the Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, saying its troops “exercised great restraint and behaved in a mature and responsible manner”.

China said early on Tuesday that the border troops of its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) took “countermeasures” after the Indian Army crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and fired “warning shots” near the Pangong Tso.

PLA border troops were “forced to take countermeasures” after Indian Army soldiers fired at them near the Shenpao mountain region near the south bank of Pangong Tso, a statement issued by China’s western theatre command (WAC) said.

The Indian statement said that the Indian Army did not transgress across the LAC at no stage or resorted to using any aggressive means, including firing.

“In the instant case on September 7, it was the PLA troops who were attempting to close in with one of our forward positions along the LAC and when dissuaded by own troops, PLA troops fired a few rounds in the air in an attempt to intimidate own troops,” an Army spokesperson said in a statement.

“However, despite the grave provocation, own troops exercised great restraint and behaved in a mature and responsible manner,” said the statement.

No shots have been fired along the India-China disputed boundary since 1975.

Stating that India was committed to disengagement and de-escalating the situation on the LAC, the spokesperson said, “China continues to undertake provocative activities to escalate. At no stage has the Indian Army transgressed across the LAC or resorted to use of any aggressive means, including firing.”

“The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility, however is also determined to protect national integrity and sovereignty at all costs. The statement by the Western Theatre Command is an attempt to mislead their domestic and international audience,” he added.