Galwan clash LIVE: All soldiers undergoing treatment are stable, says ANI

Major General-level talks to be held today over India-China face-off. Petrol and diesel prices have again been hiked

4:22 AM

'Boycott Chinese apps' campaign heats up, may have little economic impact

The border stand-off between India and China has sparked a campaign here that is gaining momentum to boycott Chinese products, including applications like videoconferencing app Zoom, short-video app TikTok, UC Browser, file-sharing app SHAREit, and gaming app PUBG. This comes weeks after the app “Remove Chinese Apps” tried to tap into a similar sentiment amidst escalating tensions at the border. Read more

4:18 AM

Hardening anti-China sentiments prompt phone brands to tone down launches

Over the last few days, #BoycottChineseProducts has been among the top trends on social media, following the stand-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh.

 

If visuals of people smashing their Chinese-made smartphones and television (TV) sets are any indicator, the anti-China sentiment has only hardened, prompting smartphone brands to sit up and take note. Read more

 

4:16 AM

Galwan Valley clash: China must keep to its side of LAC, says govt

India on Thursday again accused the Chinese of crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh on June 15. It also asked Beijing to not take any unilateral action to alter the LAC, but said the two sides were in regular touch.

 

Earlier in the day, China said the situation in the area was “generally stable and controllable”, but it stuck to its stated position that the violence on June 15 was caused by Indian frontline forces crossing the LAC. Read more

12:53 AM

Tackling China in Ladakh

New Delhi must reverse years of subservient behaviour towards China, writes Ajai Shukla. Read more here

11:24 PM

India, China working to resolve Galwan standoff through diplomatic, military channels: Official

China and India are working through diplomatic and military channels to de-escalate the tensions as soon as possible and find a solution in a "just manner" following Monday's violent face-off between their armies in the Galwan Valley, a top Chinese official said on Thursday.

 

At least 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in the clashes with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night. China's official media has acknowledged casualties on the Chinese side without mentioning numbers.

 

"The two sides are working to resolve the issue on the ground through military and diplomatic channels," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing here answering questions on the tense standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at the Galwan Valley.

 

China and India have agreed to deal with the "serious matter" caused by the conflict at the Galwan Valley in a "just manner" and both sides are in communication and coordination through diplomatic and military channels to de-escalate the tensions as soon as possible, he said.

 

"Both sides agreed to deal with the serious matter caused by the conflict at the Valley in a just manner, jointly observe the commander level talks consensus and deescalate the tensions as soon as possible and safeguard the peace and tranquillity," he said.

11:10 PM

India has taken Ladakh incident very seriously: Javadekar

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Thursday that India always desires peace but it is not afraid of giving a befitting reply to any provocation.

 

The country has taken the incident in Galwan valley in Ladakh -- where 19 Army jawans and a colonel were killed in a clash with Chinese soldiers -- very seriously, he said here.

 

The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister was speaking to the All India Radio, Bhopal, a PIB release said.

 

"We all pay tributes to the martyred Army officers and soldiers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made clear India's view over what was done by the neighbouring country China," the PIB release quoted him as saying.

10:52 PM

No soldier is critical as of now, all are stable: Army

10:08 PM

Interstate movement of armed forces, CAPFs relaxed in Himachal Pradesh

Interstate movement of personnel of armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces has been relaxed in Himachal Pradesh in the wake of the recent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, an official said on Thursday.
 

There is now no requirement of any e-pass or permit for interstate movement of the personnel of armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in Himachal Pradesh, state Chief Secretary Anil Kumar Khachi said.

9:25 PM

Govt working on steps to cut import dependence on China

The government is working on steps to reduce import dependence on China and boost domestic manufacturing, sources said on Thursday.

 

They said policymakers are not considering any knee-jerk measure against China in the wake of ongoing border tensions between the two countries.

 

China accounts for about 14 per cent of India's imports and is a major supplier for sectors like cell phones, telecom, power, plastic toys and critical pharma ingredients.

 

One of the major steps on which the government is working is to restrict low quality Chinese imports, and for that technical regulations, which includes safety and quality standards, for about 370 products are being formulated with a view to cut imports of these non-essential items from countries like China, they added.

 

These items include chemicals, steel, consumer electronics, heavy machinery, telecom goods, paper, rubber articles, glass, industrial machinery, metal articles, furniture, pharma, fertiliser, food and textiles.

9:25 PM

Calls to boycott Chinese products increase; Union ministers join chorus

The clamour to boycott China-made products grew in the country followingthe killing of 20 Indian Army personnel by Chinese troops in a violent face-off in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, with two Union ministers on Thursday urging people not to go for Chinese products, even asthe Indian Railways has decided to terminate a signalling contract worth Rs 471 crore given to a Chinese company in 2016.

 

In a hardening of stance, sources said the government has decided to ask state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) not to use Chinese telecom gear in its 4G upgradation, which is being supported as part of the company revival package, while traders' body CAIT appealed to celebrities, including Bollywood actors, to stop endorsing products of Chinese brands as a mark of respect for the slain Indian soldiers.

 

Sources privy to discussions being held in Department of Telecom said it has been decided that BSNL will be asked not to use Chinese equipment in the upgradation to 4G network, which is being supported by its revival package.

 

The department is likely to seek tweaking of the tender in this regard. A similar message will be conveyed to Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), sources said.