US Congress panel blames China for orchestrating Galwan Valley clash

A top US Congress panel has said the Chinese government had planned the June Galwan clash in eastern Ladakh. The just-released annual report of the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) said, evidence suggests that the Chinese government had planned the incident as Beijing ramped up a coercion campaign against its neighbours. It said, satellite images depicted a large Chinese build-up in the Galwan Valley, including potentially 1,000 PLA soldiers, the week before the skirmish.

While 20 Indian soldiers martyred in the LAC clashes on June 15, the Chinese had suffered casualties too. As per reports, over 35 Chinese soldiers were killed in the clash.

The report said, Beijing ramped up its multiyear coercion campaign against its neighbours, provoking military or paramilitary standoffs with countries from Japan to India and much of Southeast Asia.

USCC was formed in 2000 and investigates national security and trade issues between China and the US. It also provides recommendations to US Congress for legislative and administrative action against Beijing. (With inputs from AIR)