Chinese Bridge Over Pangong Lake In 'Illegally Occupied' Area Since 1962 Says Indian Government

The government has made it clear on several occasions that the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of India & to respect India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

New Delhi: China is constructing a bridge across the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh is in an area that is under the illegal occupation of that country since 1962, the government told Parliament on Friday.

"The government has taken note of a bridge being constructed by China on Pangong lake. This bridge is being constructed in areas that have continued to be under the illegal occupation of China since 1962," the government told the Parliament.

"China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq kms of Indian territory in the Union Territory of Ladakh for the last six decades," he said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

"The Government of India has never accepted this illegal occupation. The government has made it clear on several occasions that the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of India and we expect other countries to respect India's sovereignty and territorial integrity", it added.

The principles, the government said, are that both sides should strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control; neither side should attempt to alter the status quo unilaterally, and all agreements between the two sides must be fully abided by in their entirety.

"China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq kms of Indian territory in the Union Territory of Ladakh for the last six decades," informed in its written reply.

According to reports, the bridge, which is 8 metres wide, lies just south of a Chinese army field base on the North Bank of Pangong where Chinese field hospitals and troop accommodations were seen during the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in 2020.

India has been involved in talks with China over the disengagement process.

"Our approach in these talks has been and will continue to be guided by three key principles, that, (i) both sides should strictly respect and observe the LAC; (ii) neither side should attempt to alter the status quo unilaterally; and (iii) all agreements between the two sides must be fully abided by in their entirety," the government said.

The last round of talks between the senior commanders of India and China was held on January 12. They agreed that both sides would work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest, restoring peace along the Line of Actual Control

The government has noted reports of renaming of some places by China in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

"This is a futile exercise that will not alter the fact that Arunachal Pradesh has always been, is and will always be an integral part of India," it said.

The government gives careful and specific attention to the improvement of infrastructure for the development of border areas in order to facilitate the economic development of these areas and also to meet India's strategic and security requirements.

"The government also keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all necessary steps to ensure that our security interests are fully protected," it said.