aquafelix wrote:
The article says previous clashes between the Indian and Chinese soldiers involving clubs, stones and fists. Don't they give their troops guns?
This is due to a treaty between the 2 countries:
Quote:
In 1996, India and China signed an LAC peace treaty agreeing that "neither side shall use its military capability" against the other along their disputed border.
In accordance with this agreement, experts say troops from two of the world's largest armies have resorted to makeshift weapons, including fists, rocks and wooden clubs, some possibly studded with nails or wrapped in barbed wire.
In the clashes that took place on Tuesday, the Indian army said 20 of its soldiers had been killed and 17 were critically injured.
"They attacked with iron rods, the commanding officer was grievously injured and fell, and when that happened, more soldiers swarmed to the area and attacked with stones," an Indian government source told Reuters.
Dr Zhang said the use of non-military weapons reflected the intention on both sides to "avoid the development of the situation into a military conflict".
While Chinese officials did not disclose any casualties, the chief editor of state-owned tabloid Global Times tweeted that Chinese troops had also been killed in the clash.
Source:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-17/what-is-behind-the-india-china-border-dispute-lac/12363348
08 Aug 2021, 8:21 pm
