June 18, 2020: In the biggest military confrontation between India and China in over five decades, at least 20 Indian Army soldiers were killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley on Monday night.

As per reports, following the face-off front-line bases of the Indian army and the Air Force along the nearly 3,500 km de-facto border with China have been put on high alert in sensitive Galwan Valley.

The army has strengthened its posture across the length of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) where reinforcements have been sent and has already rushed in additional troops to all its key front-line bases and formations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, they said. The Indian Air Force is keeping its contingency plans ready and the navy is also on alert in the Indian Ocean region where scores of warships are ready for any task.

On the other hand after speaking to Chinese Foreign Minister, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar “underlined that this unprecedented development will have a serious impact on the bilateral relationship. The need of the hour was for the Chinese side to reassess its actions and take corrective steps”, MEA said in a statement.

“Two sides should scrupulously and sincerely implement the understanding reached by Senior Commanders on 6 June. Troops of both sides should also abide by bilateral agreements and protocols. They should strictly respect and observe LAC and shouldn't take any unilateral action to alter it,” the ministry added.

During the phone call, a strong message was conveyed by Indian Foreign Minister to China: “What happened in Galwan was premeditated and planned action by China which was responsible for the sequence of events” reported ANI.

The Ministry also reminded Beijing about the phone conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries who had agreed that the overall situation “should be handled in a responsible manner” and the understanding reached between military commanders of the two countries on 6 June “should be implemented sincerely”.

While China said it does not want more clashes with India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear on Wednesday that although India wants peace but it is capable to give a befitting reply if instigated.

A large number of Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks, including in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh.