China acknowledges 'PLA soldier crossed LAC', appeals to India for his speedy release

A few hours after Indian Army apprehended a Chinese soldier, People's Liberation Army's Western ater confirmed that he h invertently crossed LAC. Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece Global Times quoted a spokesperson as saying that PLA soldier went missing while he was helping a herdsman finding his yak on night of October 18. Mentioning that China h immediately tified India after incident, spokesperson expressed hope that India would fulfill its promise to return soldier.

He ded that this would help promote consensus reached by both sides at 7th round of Corps Commander-level talks to resolve LAC faceoff. Earlier in day, Indian Army revealed that Corporal Wang Ya Long was caught in Demchok sector of Eastern Lakh. It mentioned that soldier would be returned back to Chinese officials at Chushul-Moldo meeting point after completion of formalities. 

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In a statement, Indian Army said, "A PLA soldier identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long was apprehended in Demchok sector of Eastern Lakh on 19 October 2020 after he h strayed across LAC. PLA soldier has been provided medical assistance including oxygen, food and warm clos to protect him from vagaries of extreme altitude and harsh climatic conditions. A request has also been received from PLA about whereabouts of missing soldier. As per established protocols, he will be returned back to Chinese officials at Chushul – Moldo meeting point after completion of formalities."

Hostilities between India and China

 faceoff at Line of Actual Control was exacerbated when 20 Indian Army soldiers including a Commanding Officer were martyred in Galwan Valley on June 15 when de-escalation process was underway. This was followed by multiple attempts of provocation by Chinese side at end of August. Multiple rounds of Corps Commander-level and WMCC meetings have taken place between two sides to resolve crisis. In September, both Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met ir respective Chinese counterparts in Moscow.

During 7th round of Corps Commander-level talks held on October 12 at Chushul, two sides tried to understand each or's positions on disengment of troops along LAC. In "constructive" meeting, India and China agreed to implement consensus reached by ir respective leers. Moreover, re was also a consensus on maintaining dialogue through military and diplomatic channels in order to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution of disengment at earliest. 

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