1,000 Chinese Soldiers Cross India's Border as Xi Jinping Visits Region

Border tensions have heightened between China and India as over 1,000 Chinese soldiers reportedly moved into Indian territory and refused to retreat, according to local sources.

Army sources claimed that the troops from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) crossed 5km (3.18 miles) into Indian territory in the Indian region of Ladakh's Chumar sector.

In response, three Indian Army battalions were deployed to the area in what has become a tense stand-off between the two parties.

They moved inside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region which lies in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The incursion comes as Xi Jinping continues his visit to India to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss strengthening economic and cultural ties between the two regional powerhouses.

Modi raised the issue of troop incursions along their border to Jinping at a meeting this week and is set to discuss the stand-off with the Chinese premier, according to Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.

"When leaders of important countries like India and China meet at summit level, these are occasions for discussing substance. So, I can assure you that process has already started. Yesterday, the issues of substance that you are referring to have already been raised at the highest level.

"Today, there are several opportunities for discussion and all issues of a substantive nature, including the recent events that you are referring to, will be addressed. I can assure you that we will tell you the outcome once those discussions are done," Akbaruddin said.

"We are focused on multiple areas of cooperation and we will continue to pursue those areas of cooperation too. I will give you the outcomes of these once the detailed discussions are completed today.

"But, again let me assure you with all sincerity these issues have been raised and issues of concern including the recent events will also continue to be discussed today," he added.