As tensions escalate between India and China after the recent standoff between these two countries in Galwan Valley, a US intelligence report has now said that Chinese General Zhao Zongqi who heads the Chinese Army’s West Theatre Command was the one who ordered his soldiers for this action on the Indian border. Thirty-five Chinese soldiers were killed in the clash, it said.
The American intelligence report also claimed that China’s attack on Indian soldiers was a well thought out move. Zhao had been taking a lot of action against India in the past and he believes that China should not be weakened in front of America and its allies thus the attack on Indian soldiers was one of his tricks. It further said that China faced several casualties and Zhao held a memorial service for the Chinese soldiers killed in the standoff.
The skirmish was already planned in China. As per the report, China accumulated a lot of weapons near the Galwan Valley and built an infrastructure of its own. Regarding the incident of 15 June, a senior Indian officer and two noncommissioned officers travelled to a meeting place where they expected to be met by a comparable delegation of Chinese troops to discuss the withdrawal. Instead, dozens of Chinese troops were waiting with spiked bats and clubs and began an attack. Other Indian troops came in to support, leading to a melee. Meanwhile, private geointelligence firm Hawkeye 360 recently reported that satellite imagery from lateMay showed a build-up on the Chinese side which appeared to be armed personnel carriers and selfpropelled artillery.
Tensions between India and China have been for years but the situation has worsened after the death of 20 Indian soldiers on the LAC last week. China wants India to remain entangled with the countries around it, so that the distance from America remains but Indians are constantly taking action against China, both at the government and the individual level.