China admits 4 Galwan casualties

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 19

Eight months after the clash in Galwan in eastern Ladakh, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China acknowledged for the first time the gallantry of five of its soldiers. Four of the five were awarded posthumously for acts of “bravery”.

The clash between the PLA and the Indian Army occurred on June 15 last year and it is the first time the PLA has publically stated a number —- only of the gallantry awardees. And, that does not denote the number of soldiers killed in the fierce faceoff.

Read also: China’s climbdown

The award count does not mean that the PLA casualty figure during the Galwan clash was restricted to that number, sources in India said, reacting to the development which was made public this morning by PLA’s official newspaper PLA Daily. “In any operation, gallantry awards are not given to all, but only a few of those involved are decorated. The Indian Army lost 20 soldiers, only six were decorated with gallantry awards,” an official said, adding that the PLA lost anywhere between 35 and 40 soldiers in the operation in June last year.

PLA Daily said China’s military authorities had honoured two officers and three soldiers, including four who received the award posthumously.

Military talks today

Senior commanders of India and China are slated to meet on Saturday to ratify their respective troop positions on both banks of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh. The commanders will assess whether the pullback has been conducted as per the agreement. They will also discuss the disengagement from other contentious areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.