China's state-run news agency Xinhua on February 19, published an article saying that “China’s military authorities have honored two officers and three soldiers, including four who received the awards posthumously, for defending the country’s western border.” Interestingly enough, not naming India, it went on to add: “The People’s Liberation Army Daily on Friday (February 19) reported that the Central Military Commission issued commendations to the servicemen for their role in bravely fighting back hostilities provoked by foreign forces at the Galwan Valley.” The Global Times (February 19) reported that the fatalities were of Battalion Commander Chen Hongjun and soldiers Xiao Siyuan, Wang Zhuoran and Chen Xiangrong. They were born in 1987, 1996, 1996, and 2001, respectively. Both Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran were 24 years old. Chen Xiangrong died at the age of 19. Regimental Commander from the PLA Xinjiang Military Command Qi Fabao was also honoured. The Global times claimed "that the timely response of the Defense Ministry came after the detailed report, which showed China has principles and reason and has shown restraint in dealing with the whole incident. Indian media quickly hyped the casualties soon after the incident, and if China released the casualties at that time, it would not allow a healthy environment in which to solve the situation by talks." It said that analysts "also noted that after the tense situation along the border areas had eased, China revealed the truth in order to avoid further confrontations on the frontlines, as well as between the two peoples. China has shown the rationality and conscientiousness of a great power, demonstrating its image as "a lion with wisdom and kindness." It also showed the unquestionable capability of the Chinese military in safeguarding its sovereignty and territory." 

China’s military newspaper PLA Daily  on February 19, reported in detail the whole process of the military clashes between China and India last year at the West border area of the Karakoram Plateau. The report stated, “Since April 2020, the relevant foreign (India) troops have seriously violated the agreement between our two countries by building roads, bridges and other facilities in the Kalwan Valley area toward the border, deliberately provoking incidents, trying unilaterally to change the status quo of the border control, and even violently attacking China.” The report further disclosed that four Chinese military officers and soldiers died in a fierce fight in June 2020, after the negotiations failed. The article claimed that the Chinese military came out victorious, “Under the circumstances of unbearable tolerance, the border officers and soldiers resolutely responded to the violent acts and achieved major victories, effectively defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Earlier on February 10, 2021, China’s Defense Ministry’s spokesperson declared that, after 8 months of confrontation, both sides have started to retreat from the border simultaneously.

The Hongkong-based Chinese-language 'Ming Pao' daily newspaper on February 21 reported that also on February 19, former Mainland reporter Qiu Ziming criticized Qi Fabao for failing to take the lead and questioned the number of people killed on his Weibo account "La Bi Xiaoqiu". He said he knew that about 60 or 70 people were dead. A day earlier he said: "The biggest-the captain survived..."The foreign army was crushed and fleeing with his head. Anyway, we won." He pointed out in another post: "Sacrificed These 4 people all contributed to the "rescue", and even the people who went to save people were sacrificed. There must be no rescues. It means that not only 4 people were killed. This is the first time India dared to announce the number of people killed. And the reason for the list, from India’s point of view, they won at a lower price.” Qiu Ziming, whose posts generated controversy, was criminally detained by the Nanjing Municipal Public Security Bureau on February 20, 2021.

(Comment: The official Chinese reports mention those honoured but do not specify the total number of casualties. Indian Army and US sources have estimated the number of Chinese dead at around 45. This is the first official confirmation from Beijing that the PLA lost soldiers during the clash at Galwan Valley, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. This was the first time since 1975 that a confrontation between the two forces along the 4057-kilometers long China-India Line of Actual Control caused fatalities. Among the dead Chinese soldiers were a Brigade Commander and a Regiment Commander.)