Indian PM Narendra Modi makes surprise China border visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to India's northern frontier region with China on Friday in his first trip to the area since a deadly border clash last month. The incident in the Galwan Valley saw 20 Indian troops killed and was the first time in 45 years that soldiers had died in combat on the Asian giants' long-disputed Himalayan border.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat (L) arrives for an interactions with the security forces personnel in Leh, Friday, July 3, 2020.

He was due to go to a military hospital in nearby Leh to meet soldiers injured in the hand-to-hand skirmish, a security source told AFP. The head of India's military and the army chief also joined the visit to the sensitive area, which has been used as a staging post to build up troop numbers in the region. China also suffered casualties but has not given details.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Himalayan region of Ladakh, July 3, 2020.

Personnel of the Army, Air Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police during an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Leh, Friday, July 3, 2020.

Modi toured a military base at Nimoo in Ladakh.