India-China clash in Tawang: ‘It is not 1962 anymore’, says Arunachal CM

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on December 13 reacted to reports of another face-off between Indian and Chinese troops along the state’s Line of Actual Control (LAC) and said that anyone attempting to enter ‘our’ land will receive a befitting reply from Indian Army.

“It’s not 1962 (Sino-Indian War) anymore. If anyone tries to transgress, our brave soldiers will give a befitting reply,” Khandu said on Twitter.

The Arunachal Chief Minister added that Yangste, where the confrontation occurred, is under his Assembly Constituency, and that he travels there annually to engage with local residents and jawans.

“Yangste is under my assembly constituency, and every year I meet the jawans and villagers in the area,” the CM added.

The 1962 conflict, which eventually came to an end after China agreed to a ceasefire, caused significant losses of lives on both sides along the international border in Arunachal Pradesh.

This is not the first time CM Khandu has compared the situation in Arunachal Pradesh along the LAC to the 1962 war.

In November last year, CM Khandu said, “Back in 1962, the situation was very different. The infrastructure in the region was very poor. Despite that, the Indian Army fought bravely and sacrificed thousands of lives to protect our motherland. But today, we are not where we were in 1962.”

Earlier in the day, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed in Parliament the clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh's Yangtse sector, saying the Chinese army attempted to change the status quo along the contested border unilaterally.

“The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner. The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts,” Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

Notably, the face-off between Indian and Chinese troops has come amid the ongoing border confrontation between both the sides in the sensitive Ladakh sector along the LAC.