Expect Beijing to restore peace in border areas: MEA
New Delhi, Sep 1: In the backdrop of fresh clash between troops of two Himalayan nations in Pangong Tso areas in eastern Ladakh, India on Tuesday said it expects Chinese side to sincerely abide by the understanding reached earlier and earnestly work to resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas.
In response to a media query on the recent developments in the India-China Border Areas, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “The Indian side is firmly committed to resolve all outstanding issues along the LAC in the Western Sector through peaceful dialogue.”
In this context, “we expect the Chinese side to sincerely abide by the understanding reached earlier and earnestly work with the India to resolve the situation and to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas,” he said.
On August 29-30 night, China’s People Liberation of Army (PLA) carried out provocative military movements to unilaterally change the status quo.
Indian troops pre-empted the PLA activity on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso Lake, undertook measures to strengthen its positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on ground.
Indian Army in a statement had said, “the Army is committed to maintain peace and tranquility through dialogue, but is also equally determined to protect its territorial integrity.”
The two neighbouring nations have been closely engaged through diplomatic and military channels over the past three months to resolve the situation along the India-China border.
“It would also be recalled that earlier the two Foreign Ministers and the two Special Representatives had agreed that the situation should be handled in a responsible manner and either side should not take any provocative action or escalate matters and ensure peace and tranquility as per bilateral agreements and protocol,” Srivastava said.
He further added that the Chinese side violated the understanding and engaged in provocative military maneuvers in the late night of 29th and on 30th August in an attempt to change the status quo in the South Bank area of Pangong Lake.
“The actions and behavior of the Chinese side since earlier this year along the LAC has been in clear violation of the bilateral agreements and protocols concluded between the two countries to ensure peace and tranquility on the border. Such actions are also in complete disregard to the understandings reached between the two Foreign Ministers as also the Special Representatives,” he said.
“We have taken up the matter of recent provocative and aggressive actions with Chinese side through both diplomatic and military channels and have urged them to discipline and control their frontline troops from undertaking such provocative actions,” the spokesperson said.
