MEA has released an official statement on India-China Border Tensions. MEA said that India expects China to follow the agreement between foreign ministers of both the countries to maintain peace in the region.
The Chinese Embassy has on Saturday issued a statement about Galwan valley faceoff wherein 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. It has claimed sovereignty over the valley and China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian has also claimed that Indian soldiers have ‘unilaterally’ built roads, bridges and other facilities at the Galwan Valley. Moreover, the statement added that Galwan Valley is on the ‘Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC)’ in the west section of the China-India boundary.
After the Clash between Indian and Chinese troops Minister for External Affairs of India S Jaishankar in a Phone Conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had clearly conveyed that China is thoroughly responsible for the clash. The two Ministers agreed that the overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner, and that both sides would implement the disengagement understanding of 6 June sincerely. The two sides are in regular touch and early meetings of military and diplomatic mechanisms are currently being discussed.
China’s False Claim Over Galwan Valley :
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian later lied about the territorial demarcation between the two countries along LAC and claimed that Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh is located on Chinese side of border. Zhao Lijian pointed out that the Galwan Valley is located on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in the west section of the China-India boundary.
MEA’s Statement over China’s Galwan Claim :
“The position with regard to the Galwan Valley area has been historically clear. Attempts by the Chinese side to now advance exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to Line of Actual Control (LAC) there are not acceptable. They are not in accordance with China’s own position in the past,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. He further said that India expects China to “sincerely follow” the agreement between Foreign Ministers of both countries to maintain peace in the region for the overall development of bilateral ties.
“We expect that the Chinese side will sincerely follow the understanding between the Foreign Ministers to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas, which is so essential for the overall development of our bilateral relations,” the MEA said.
In mid-May, the Chinese side attempted to transgress the LAC in other areas of the Western Sector of the India-China border areas. These attempts were invariably met with an appropriate response from us. Thereafter, the two sides were engaged in discussions through established diplomatic and military channels to address the situation arising out of Chinese activities on the LAC.
MEA said that Indian soldiers are fully familiar with the alignment of LAC in all sectors of India-China border areas.
“They abide by it scrupulously here, as they do elsewhere,” MEA said on Chinese Spokesperson’s 19 June statement on the events in the Galwan Valley area.