Relations between India and China are at their lowest point in decades since the standoff at Ladakh started in May. With troops still eyeball to eyeball and India continuing measures to restrict Chinese investments, officials have described the current standoff as the "most serious" situation since the 1962 war.
मानवता सर्वोपरि#IndianArmy extends help and #Medical assistance to stranded #Chinese citizens at the India - China Border of #NorthSikkim at altitude of 17,500 feet under extreme climatic conditions.
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) September 5, 2020
For #IndianArmy #Humanity is foremost#HumanValues#IndianArmy#NationFirst pic.twitter.com/mdW7Tka0wo
But the tension has not stopped the Indian Army from its humanitarian missions. And that includes helping Chinese citizens.
The Indian Army provided humanitarian aid to three Chinese citizens who lost their way in the Plateau area of north Sikkim at an altitude of 17,500 feet on September 3.
"Realising danger to the lives of the Chinese citizens, which included two men and one woman in sub-zero temperatures, the soldiers of Indian Army immediately reached out and provided medical assistance including oxygen, food and warm clothes to protect them from the vagaries of extreme altitude and harsh climatic conditions. The Indian troops also gave them appropriate guidance to reach their destination after which they moved back. The Chinese citizens expressed their gratitude to India and the Indian Army for their prompt assistance," an Army press release said.
The Indian Army's Twitter handle provided images of the incident and declared, "For Indian Army Humanity is foremost".
Along with Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim is considered another flashpoint in ties with China. Although China agreed in 2003 to recognise Sikkim as Indian territory, the Chinese state media had warned during the Doklam standoff in 2017 that Beijing could reassess its stance on the issue.
