A view of the road on the way to the Line of Actual Control, at the India-China Border in Tawang
(Picture: AP)Indian and Chinese troops have clashed on the disputed Arunachal Pradesh mountain border, the first flare up between both sides in more than a year.
Both India and China had been working to de-escalate tensions since a major clash killed at least 24 troops in 2020. India reported the incident on Friday.
Soldiers on both sides reportedly suffered minor injuries, with six Indians hurt. China has not commented.
India's defence minister, Rajnath Singh, told his parliament on Tuesday that Indian troops prevented their Chinese counterparts from entering their territory.
He said: “Peoples’ Liberation Army troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo by encroaching on the Line of Actual Control, in the Yangtse area of Tawang sector.
"Our army faced this attempt by China with firmness. A scuffle ensued in this face-off. The Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from encroaching on our territory, and forced them to withdraw to their posts. Some soldiers from both sides were injured in the skirmish."
The fight was the first between the two countries since deadly clashes in June 2020 when Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh, abutting the Chinese-held Tibetan plateau.
China and India share a 2,100 mile-long border - the Line of Actual Control - which is poorly marked and the presence of rivers, lakes and snowcapped mountains means the line can shift.
In September both countries agreed to step back from a disputed area along a remote western Himalayan border area and begin withdrawal of troops.
