Indian special forces member killed in China border showdown

A Tibetan-origin soldier with India's special forces was killed in the latest border showdown with Chinese troops on their contested Himalayan border_ a Tibetan representative said Tuesday. The death is the first reported from two incidents in 48 hours on the border which has heightened tensions between the giant nations just two months after a battle that left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead. India and China_ which fought a border war in 1962_ have accused each other of seeking to cross their unofficial frontier in the Ladakh region in a bid to gain territory on Saturday night_ and then again on Monday. Neither side has announced any casualties but Namghyal Dolkar Lhagyari_ a member of the Tibetan parliament in exile_ told AFP that the Tibetan-origin soldier was "martyred during the clash" on Saturday night. She said another member of the Special Frontier Force that reportedly includes many ethnic Tibetans who oppose China's claim to their home region was wounded in the operation. The world's two most populous countries have sent tens of thousands of troops to the region since a brutal June 15 battle fought with wooden clubs and fists. India has said 20 troops were killed. China acknowledged casualties but did not give figures. The two sides blamed each other for the latest incidents. India's defence ministry said Chinese troops "carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo" at the border on Saturday. China's People's Liberation Army said that India was "seriously violating China's territorial sovereignty" with its operation staged Monday and demanded that Indian troops withdraw. India's foreign ministry said Tuesday that China had caused the latest incident "even as ground commanders of the two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation." Indian media reports_ quoting military sources_ said PLA forces tried to take hilltops traditionally claimed by India around Pangong Tso_ a lake at 4_200 metres (13_500 feet) altitude. India's defence ministry said its troops "undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on ground. -source: bangkok post