- Title: Modi pays tribute to soldiers killed in China clash
- Date: 3rd July 2020
- Summary: LADAKH, INDIA (JULY 3, 2020) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) HALL OF FAME WAR MEMORIAL, SOLDIERS STANDING HALL OF FAME WAR MEMORIAL
- Embargoed: 17th July 2020 18:36
- Keywords: China Galwan Valley Himalayan border India Ladakh Narendra Modi army soldiers tribute
- Location: LADAKH, INDIA
- City: LADAKH, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001CL9BCCN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (July 3) visited a war memorial in the northern region where he paid tribute to soldiers killed during recent clashes at the nearby border with China.
In a ceremony at the Hall of Fame war memorial in the Himalayan desert of Ladakh, Modi laid a floral tribute to the 20 Indian soldiers who were killed in a clash with Chinese soldiers last month.
Friday was Modi's first trip to Ladakh region since the June 15 clash which heightened tensions between the two neighbours.
In an earlier speech to soldiers, Modi said "the age of expansionism is over and a new era of development is upon us."
India says Chinese troops have intruded across the Line of Actual Control, or the ceasefire line separating the two armies in the high altitude Ladakh region, and the clash occurred because Chinese troops sought to erect defences on India's side of the de facto border.
China says the whole of the Galwan valley where the clash occurred is its territory and that it was frontline Indian troops that had breached the border, which is not demarcated.
China's foreign ministry said on Friday the two countries were holding talks to reduce tensions.
The most serious crisis on the India-China border in years has erupted while Beijing is embroiled in disputes over the South China Sea, Taiwan and its tightening grip over Hong Kong, which have all fanned fears of an expansionist policy.
(Production: ANI, Hanna Rantala, Angie Ramos) - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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