US Senator Claims China Used Electromagnetic Weapon on Indian Soldiers During 2020 Border Clash

In a startling allegation, US Senator Bill Hagerty has claimed that China used an electromagnetic weapon to "literally melt Indian soldiers" during a border standoff with India five years ago. While Hagerty didn’t directly name the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, his reference strongly suggests a link to that deadly incident, which marked a turning point in India-China relations.

"China and India have a long history of grievances and distrust," the Republican senator from Tennessee said. "Barely five years ago, China and India were fighting over a disputed border, and China used an electromagnetic weapon to literally melt Indian soldiers."

The bizarre and unverified claim comes just two weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The timing of Hagerty's remarks has raised eyebrows in Washington, with some seeing it as an attempt to reignite concerns over China’s military tactics.

Adding to the diplomatic confusion, former US President Donald Trump recently claimed that the United States had "lost India to darkest China" — only to later soften his stance, calling India a vital partner. He also reassured that he remains on good terms with Modi, saying, "I will always be friends with Prime Minister Modi," a sentiment the Indian leader publicly reciprocated.

In June 2020, tensions between India and China erupted in the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), leading to the deadliest border clash between the two countries in over four decades. The hand-to-hand combat, which lasted nearly seven hours, resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers, including a commanding officer.

While China initially acknowledged casualties on its side without revealing numbers, later reports suggested that Chinese fatalities may have been even higher — possibly more than double the Indian losses.

The incident sent bilateral ties into a deep freeze, with both nations ramping up military deployments along the disputed border.

Amid growing global concern over China's assertiveness, India’s ties with the United States have also gone through turbulence. Tensions recently flared after Donald Trump, in his presidential campaign, imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods. The move was in response to India's continued purchase of oil from Russia, a sore point in Washington.

However, Trump has since tried to dial back the rhetoric, calling India a "great ally" and expressing hope for continued dialogue. He confirmed plans to speak with Modi in the coming weeks to work through what he described as "trade barriers."

As the geopolitical chessboard continues to shift, it’s clear that old alliances are being tested — and new claims, like the one made by Senator Hagerty, are only adding to the tension. So far, there has been no official response from India or China regarding the senator’s claim.