China has accused Indian troops of illegally crossing a disputed Himalayan border and firing “provocative” warning shots at patrolling soldiers. China’s military said its soldiers were “forced to take countermeasures”, though it is not clear what they were. India rejected the allegations and accused Chinese troops of firing in the air during the face-off in the high-altitude Ladakh region. Relations between the countries have steadily deteriorated in recent months. India said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had tried to approach a forward Indian position near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and “fired a few rounds in the air in an attempt to intimidate [our] own troops”. “At no stage has the Indian army transgressed across the LAC or resorted to use of any aggressive means, including firing,” the statement from India’s military said.