Tawang Clash: Chinese Troops Left Equipment At Face-Off Site When Forced Into A Hurried Retreat By Indian Soldiers

Forced into a hurried and embarrassing retreat, Chinese troops who clashed with Indian soldiers in the Yangtse area of Arunachal's Tawang district left their equipment behind at the face-off site.

On 9 December, in a bid to take control of a 17,000 feet high peak in Yangtse, Chinese soldiers clashed with Indian troops and were quickly repulsed back across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Well-equipped Indian soldiers chased back Chinese troops, who were carrying melee weapons and taser guns, towards their post, reports say. Fear-stricken soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the Chinese Communist Party also fired warning shots to deter Indian troops as they were withdrawing back towards their post.

After the clashes, Indian soldiers deployed in the area recovered sleeping bags and clothes left behind by the retreating Chinese.

The recovery of Chinese sleeping bags from the area suggests that the PLA was planning to stay put in the area if it managed to take control of the peak, experts have pointed out. The Chinese had come prepared for the long haul, but the Indian Army managed to overwhelm them with greater numerical strength and well-equipped soldiers.

At least one report said that the Indian side had intel about the Chinese plans and pre-deployed troops to deal with the situation.