India junks China’s charge of sparking tension

Sutirtho Patranobis and Rezaul H Laskar

Beijing/New Delhi

India on Thursday strongly rebutted China’s competition that tensions within the Ladakh and Sikkim sectors had been triggered by Indian troops crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC), even because it accused Chinese forces of hindering patrols on the Indian aspect.

The Indian aspect mentioned it’s dedicated to peace and tranquillity alongside the border, however will take all steps to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and safety. The remarks by exterior affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava got here towards the backdrop of continuous tensions alongside the LAC, particularly in Galwan Valley of Ladakh, the place either side have deployed extra troops.

New Delhi’s first official response to the tensions got here a day after India was strongly supported by the US, with prime American diplomat Alice Wells saying such disputes are a “reminder of the threat posed by China”.

In Beijing, international ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reiterated that Indian troops had trespassed throughout the LAC and dismissed Wells’ remarks as “just nonsense”. India ought to work with China and “refrain from unilateral actions” that complicate the state of affairs, he mentioned.

China’s international ministry aspect had first accused Indian troops of trespassing throughout the LAC in an announcement to Hindustan Times on Tuesday, saying Beijing needed to take “necessary countermeasures” after the Indian aspect allegedly obstructed regular patrols by Chinese troops.

Asked about China’s place on the standoff in Ladakh, exterior affairs ministry spokesperson Srivastava instructed an internet information briefing: “Any suggestion that Indian troops had undertaken activity across the LAC in the western [Ladakh] sector or the Sikkim sector is not accurate.”

Srivastava added: “All Indian activities are entirely on the Indian side of the LAC. In fact, it is [the] Chinese side that has recently undertaken activity hindering India’s normal patrolling patterns.”

Indian troops, he mentioned, “scrupulously” abide by the alignment of the LAC and all Indian actions “are entirely on the Indian side of the LAC”. The Indian aspect has a “very responsible approach towards border management”, and is “deeply committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and security”, he added.

Indian troops strictly comply with procedures in bilateral agreements and protocols to resolve conditions arising from variations in notion of the LAC, Srivastava mentioned. “The two sides have established mechanisms to resolve such situations peacefully through dialogue. Both sides remain engaged with each other to address any immediate issues,” he mentioned.

In line with the consensus reached in the course of the second India-China casual summit in Mamallapuram final yr, the Indian aspect is firmly dedicated to the widespread goal of sustaining peace and tranquillity on the border, and that is an “essential prerequisite to the further development of…bilateral relations”, Srivastava mentioned.

During an internet briefing for journalists on Wednesday, Alice Wells, the outgoing head of the US state division’s South and Central Asian bureau, had mentioned the border tensions had been a reminder that “Chinese aggression is not always rhetorical”, and China’s “provocations and disturbing behaviour” raised questions on how Beijing seeks to make use of its rising energy.

Responding to her remarks at a daily information briefing, Chinese international ministry spokesperson Zhao mentioned: “The [US] diplomat’s remarks are just nonsense. China’s position on the China-India boundary issue is consistent and clear. China’s border troops firmly safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and security and firmly dealt with the Indian side’s cross-over and infringement activities.”

Zhao added, “We urge the Indian side to work together with us, abide by our leadership’s important consensus, comply with the agreements signed, refrain from unilateral actions complicating the situation.”

He additional mentioned, “We hope they will make concrete efforts for peace and tranquillity in the border region. There are consultations and diplomatic channels between the two sides that have nothing to do with the US.”

Earlier this month, Indian and Chinese troops had been concerned in clashes within the Sikkim and Ladakh sectors that left a number of troopers on either side injured. The clashes had been resolved on the degree of native commanders, however either side rushed in a whole bunch of troopers as reinforcements, particularly in Galwan Valley.

Reports have recommended that the Chinese aspect deployed troops and heavy tools that had been concerned in an train to beef up positions within the Ladakh sector. China’s state-run media has described the newest tensions because the worst because the 2017 Doklam standoff, which lasted 73 days.