中印ヒマラヤ国境でまた乱闘、両軍に負傷者

【ニューデリーＡＦＰ＝時事】インドと中国が国境を争うヒマラヤ地域で20日、両軍による新たな乱闘が発生し、双方に複数の負傷者が出た。軍当局筋が25日、明らかにした。（写真はインド軍と中国軍の衝突が起きたヒマラヤ地域の係争地を示した地図）
　ヒマラヤの係争地では半年前にも両軍による乱闘があり、インド軍の兵士少なくとも２０人が死亡、中国軍側にも数は不明ながら複数の犠牲者が出ている。
　インド軍は、インド北部シッキム州と中国・チベット自治区を結ぶナクラ峠で起きた小競り合いについて、「ちょっとしたにらみ合い」にすぎないとの見解を表明。短い声明で、すでに「現地の指揮官ら」が手順通りの対応をし、既に緊張は緩和されたと発表した。
　当局筋によると、中国軍の哨戒兵がインド側に侵入しようとしたため、中国側に追い返された。その際、インド軍の兵士４人と中国軍の哨戒兵１人が負傷した。ただ、中国側の負傷者の人数は不明という。
　軍当局筋がＡＦＰに明かしたところによると、乱闘は先週、シッキム州のナクラで発生。メディアは印軍当局の話として、両軍に犠牲者が出たと報じている。
　シッキム州の国境地域では、昨年５月に乱闘騒ぎが起きて以降、インド・中国両軍の緊張が高まっている。６月には、印ラダック地方のガルワン渓谷で素手や木棒による乱闘が発生した。
　中印間では１９６２年に国境紛争が発生。一連の衝突をめぐっても両国は互いを非難し合い、国境地域に展開する部隊を増強している。両軍司令官が緊張緩和に向けて協議を重ねているが、２４日の話し合いでも双方に譲る姿勢は見られなかった。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/01/26-08:45）

Indian and Chinese troops have fought a new brawl on their contested Himalayan border, leaving injuries on both sides, military officials said Monday.
The fighting on January 20 came six months after a pitched battle which left at least 20 Indian troops dead as well as an unknown number of Chinese casualties.
The world's two most populous nations have since become embroiled in a diplomatic showdown over their geographical and political differences.
The Indian military played down the latest skirmish as a minor face-off at Naku La pass, which connects Sikkim state with Tibet on the Chinese side.
A short statement said the tensions were resolved by local commanders as per established protocols.
Four Indian troops were injured when a Chinese patrol was forced back, government sources said.
They added that China's People's Liberation Army suffered an unknown number of casualties.
The incident, however, highlighted the increasingly fraught state of India-China relations however. Details were released on the eve of India's Republic Day, when the country shows off its latest military hardware at a parade in the capital.
Hand-to-hand fighting between 150 soldiers from the two sides at Naku La in May last year set off the latest frontier tensions between the world's two most populous nations.
About 10 troops from each side suffered injuries and a series of other incidents followed.
In June, troops from the two sides fought with fists and wooden clubs in the Galwan valley of Ladakh region, leaving dozens dead. China has never confirmed it suffered fatalities.
China and India, who fought a border war in 1962, blame each other for the increased tensions and each has poured tens of thousands of extra troops into border zones.
The latest de-escalation talks between military commanders were held Sunday but there have been no signs that either side is ready to back down.
India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said last month that relations between the neighbours had been significantly damaged by the events of the past year.
India is also wary of China's moves to extend its diplomatic muscle into South Asia through massive investment schemes.
The government has sought to block Chinese companies from getting deals in India, banning more than 150 Chinese apps made by its tech giants.
Chinese products are being halted in customs logjams at Indian ports. China has in turn warned that India will suffer economically from the dispute.