New Delhi, Jul 9: Stating that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) must be respected and observed, India on Thursday reiterated that neither side should take any unilateral action to alter it.
The first phase on disengagement between troops of India and China have been completed.
“We remain convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue, at the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said during the virtual weekly media briefing here on Thursday.
India has spelt out categorically about its position on different aspects of the current situation in the Western Sector of India-China border areas. “They include our position that recent Chinese claims to the Galwan Valley area are exaggerated and untenable,” he said.
“The diplomatic and military officials of both sides will continue their meetings to take forward the process of disengagement and de-escalation as agreed to by the Special Representatives,” Mr Srivastava said.
The next meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC) is expected to take place soon, he added.
On July 5, the Special Representatives (SRs) of India and China on the Boundary Question — NSA Ajit Doval and Wang Yi, State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China had a telephone conversation.
During the conversation, the NSA conveyed categorically India’s position on the recent developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including in the Galwan valley area.
NSA emphasised in this context that the Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach towards border management and at the same time, our forces were deeply committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and security, the foreign ministry had said in a statement.