Chinese Bridge On Pangong Areas Under 'Illegal Occupation': Govt Tells Parliament

The Minister of State for External Affairs mentioned that India has never accepted this illegal occupation.

Geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon had posted a satellite image on Twitter suggesting that the new bridge was being constructed by China to link the North and South banks of Pangong lake. (Photo: Twitter/detresfa_)

New Delhi: The Union government told Parliament on Friday that the bridge being constructed by China across the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh is in an area that is under the illegal occupation of that country since 1962.

"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," Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in Lok Sabha, as quoted by news agency PTI.

He mentioned that India has never accepted this illegal occupation.

"The government has made it clear on several occasions that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of India and we expect other countries to respect India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Minister of State for External Affairs added.

The statement came a day after India decided to diplomatically boycott the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Winter Olympics after China fielded a military officer involved in the Galwan Valley clash as a torchbearer for the mega sporting event.

Previously, satellite images of the bridge being built in the Khurnak area had surfaced, after which military experts said that the aim behind the construction is to ensure the Chinese PLA is able to quickly mobilise its troops in the region.

China has been focusing on strengthening its military infrastructure after Indian troops captured several strategic peaks on the southern bank of the Pangong lake in August 2020 after the Chinese PLA attempted to intimidate them in the area.

'Futile Exercise': Centre On China 'Renaming' Some Places In Arunachal Pradesh

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

"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," he said.

The minister stressed that 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," he said.

India's Approach In Talks With China Over Eastern Ladakh Standoff

V Muraleedharan also spoke about India's approach in talks with China over the eastern Ladakh standoff.

He pointed out that India and China have maintained dialogue through both diplomatic and military channels for disengagement in the remaining areas.

"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," he said, as quoted by PTI.

The Minister of State for External Affairs mentioned that the last round of talks between senior commanders of India and China was held on January 12 and they agreed that both sides should follow the guidance provided by their leaders and work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest as this would help in the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the region and enable progress in bilateral ties.

(With Agency Inputs)