'Premeditated Action By Beijing Led To Violence': EAM Warns Chinese Counterpart Of Impact On Bilateral Ties

The diplomatic conversation between the top-level ministers comes a day after 20 soldiers of Indian Army including a colonel rank officer were martyred in the scuffle.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi over the phone and discussed the situation in Eastern Ladakh on the backdrop of a 'violent faceoff' that left 20 Indian soldiers dead and several other injured in the Galwan Valley. During his telephonic conversation, Jaishankar lodged a strong demarche and conveyed a message to China saying, "What happened in Galwan was premeditated and planned action by China which was responsible for the sequence of events." Jaishankar while speaking to Wang Yiunder over the call, said that this unprecedented development will have a serious impact on the bilateral relationship. He warned the rival saying that "the need of the hour was for the Chinese side to reassess its actions and take corrective steps." Further in the conversation, the minister reminded the Chinese official that at the meeting of senior Military Commanders held on June 6, both the countries had agreed that the overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner. He recalled that both sides would implement the disengagement understanding of 6 June sincerely. "Two sides should scrupulously and sincerely implement the understanding reached by Senior Commanders on June 6. Troops of both sides should also abide by bilateral agreements and protocols. They should strictly respect and observe LAC, and shouldn't take any unilateral action to alter it," the External Affairs Minister said, as reported by ANI. The diplomatic conversation between the top-level ministers comes a day after 20 soldiers of Indian Army including a colonel rank officer were martyred in the scuffle on Ladakh border while 40 of Chinese soldiers including a commanding officer were killed. Mourning the death of the brave hearts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today chaired a second round of meeting with Chief Ministers of various states and union territories and addressed the nation saying that India always prioritizes peace, but bears strength of giving a befitting reply if instigated.

Prime Minister @narendramodi 's remarks on the situation in India-China Border areas

PM condoles the loss of lives of Indian soldiers in #Galwan#IndiaChinaBorder Read: https://t.co/o4zAO76zoJ Watch here: ????https://t.co/WgTpb3HZjF — PIB India (@PIB_India) June 17, 2020

He warned China that "the sacrifice of our jawans will not be in vain. For us, the unity and sovereignty of the country is the most important. When instigated, India is capable of giving a befitting reply, be it any kind of situation." PM Modi has also called for an all-party meeting on June 19 over India-China border issue following the violent face-off with the Chinese troops.