The People’s Liberation Army soldier was apprehended in the Demchok area of eastern Ladakh, and would be returned after the completion of formalities. An Indian Army Statement read: “PLA soldier identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long was apprehended in the Demchok sector of Eastern Ladakh on 19 October 2020 after he had strayed across the LAC.
“The PLA soldier has been provided medical assistance including oxygen, food and warm clothes to protect him from the vagaries of extreme altitude and harsh climatic conditions.”
The nuclear-armed neighbours have been locked in a months-long border confrontation in the Ladakh region, with troops killing each other in hand-to-hand combat and firing shots in the air.
Both sides have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks, but have made little headway.
Army officials said the soldier has been provided with medical assistance, including oxygen, food and warm clothes.
They said the soldier would be returned to Chinese officials at Chushul, Moldo, after “formalities”.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have reached boiling point following clashes over the LAC in Ladakh.
The Asian giants have rival claims to vast swathes of territory along their mountainous 3,500 km (2,173 miles) border, but the disputes have remained largely peaceful since the 1962 war.
However deadly conflict erupted in June when there were losses on both sides of the battle following a violent face-off between China and India at Galwan Valley, one of the four clash points in the eastern Ladakh sector.
Since then, discussions between senior military officials aimed at easing tensions between the pair have failed to reach a breakthrough.
Indian military officials have previously accused Chinese soldiers of entering into India’s side of the LAC or the de facto border at several locations in early May.
But China denied it breached the LAC, as the 3,488 km de facto border is known, and says there is stability in the area near the Galwan River andPangong Tso lake in the remote snow deserts of India’s Ladakh region.
One possible trigger for frictions is India’s construction of a road near the Galwan valley to narrow the gap with China’s superior network of roads that it built years ago, Indian and foreign military experts say.
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