‘Indian troops violated the consensus’ — China claims India ‘trespassed’ LAC
New Delhi: China said Tuesday that India has “grossly violated” its territorial sovereignty and “illegally trespassed” the Line of Actual Control, which goes against efforts at de-escalation.
Beijing’s statement comes a day after fresh clashes between Indian and Chinese troops on the southern bank of the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh came to light.
The Indian Army had said in a statement Monday that it was the Chinese PLA’s troops who violated the consensus reached during military and diplomatic engagements on the intervening night of 29 August and 30 August, and “carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo”.
However, Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Rong blamed India, saying its troops did not act in accordance with what was agreed upon between the two sides in military and diplomatic-level talks.
“On 31 August, Indian troops violated the consensus reached in previous multi-level engagements and negotiations between China and India, illegally trespassed the Line of Actual Control again at the southern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake and near the Reqin Pass in the western sector of China-India border, and conducted flagrant provocations, which again stirred tension in the border areas,” Ji said in a statement Tuesday.
Demand for immediate action
Ji said India’s move has grossly violated China’s territorial sovereignty, seriously violated relevant agreements, protocols and important consensus reached between the two countries, and severely damaged peace and tranquillity along the China-India border areas.
“What India has done runs counter to the efforts made by both sides for a period of time to ease and cool down the situation on the ground, and China is resolutely opposed to this,” the statement continued.
Detailing what China has demanded from India, Ji said: “China has made solemn representations to the Indian side, urged the Indian side to strictly control and restrain its frontline troops, earnestly honour its commitments, immediately stop all the provocative actions, immediately withdraw its troops illegally trespassing the Line of Actual Control, (and) immediately stop any actions leading to the escalation and complication of the situation.”
THE PRINT
