‘Differences should not become disputes’: China says consensus at military talks on border standoff

China on Monday stated the militaries of the 2 nations had reached a consensus through the weekend talks to not permit variations to escalate into disputes.

In temporary feedback on the assembly between senior navy officers on Saturday to resolve the standoff in Ladakh, the Chinese overseas ministry stated on Monday that the 2 sides had agreed to implement the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping to not permit variations to develop into disputes.

Modi and Xi have reiterated a number of occasions together with throughout their second casual summit in Chennai final October that New Delhi and Beijing shouldn’t permit variations to escalate into disputes; variations could be managed, they reiterated.

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In the primary assembly of senior navy officers since Indian and Chinese border troops acquired locked in a standoff alongside the LAC in Ladakh, a delegation led Lt Gen Harinder Singh, commander of Leh-based 14 Corps, held talks with a Chinese delegation led by Maj Gen Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang navy area, at Moldo on the Chinese aspect of the LAC on Saturday.

“On the afternoon of June 6, a meeting was held between the commanders of China and India in the Chusul-Moldo region. The two sides held consultations,” overseas ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying stated at common ministry briefing on Monday.

“Recently through diplomatic and military channels, the two sides have maintained close communication on the situation along the border,” she stated.

“One consensus (of the talks) is that the two sides need to implement the two leaders’ consensus and make sure that the differences do not escalate into disputes. And, the two sides will work to maintain peace and tranquility along the border and create a good atmosphere,” she stated.

“So, the situation overall is stable and controllable and the two sides are ready to engage in consultation to properly solve the relevant issues,” Hua added.

Also learn: India, China will proceed talks on border stand-off

The Chinese overseas ministry’s assertion echoed the Indian one – at the least in tone if not in size — issued by the exterior affairs ministry on Sunday.

“The two sides will continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” the Indian assertion stated.

It wasn’t instantly clear whether or not the navy stand off had been cleared.

However, from the truth that Hua stated that the “two sides are ready to engage in consultation…” might be an indicator that extra dialogue was wanted to resolve the present friction.

On Friday, joint secretary (East Asia) Naveen Srivastava of the exterior affairs ministry had held talks with Wu Jianghao, director basic in China’s overseas ministry, by means of video convention to evaluate bilateral relations, together with “current developments”.

This was the primary formal diplomatic assembly between the 2 sides since tensions flared alongside the LAC.