LAC Standoff: India Rejects China’s Remarks Alleging ‘Illegal Trespass’ To ‘Encroach On Chinese Territory’

India has maintained its position on the LAC issue holding China responsible for trying to alter the status quo in Ladakh that seriously disturbed peace and tranquility in the border areas

Representative Photo: Getty Images

New Delhi: India on Friday rejected China’s remarks on the Galwan valley clash that took place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and had soured relations between the two countries last year.

“We reject such statements. Our position with regard to developments last year along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh has been clear and consistent”: MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in response to the Chinese counterpart’s comments accusing India of committing “illegal trespass” to “encroach on Chinese territory”.

Following the comment by China, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that “it was the provocative behavior and unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo in contravention of all our bilateral agreements that resulted in serious disturbance of peace and tranquility. This has also impacted bilateral relations”.

“As emphasized by EAM in his meeting with Chinese FM earlier this month, it is our expectation that the Chinese side will work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements & protocols,”: MEA Spokesperson added, as quoted by news agency ANI.

India’s response comes after Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian, in a press conference, blamed Indian forces for the violent clash that took place last year.

When asked about China’s views on India reorganising its military into four theater commands with one in the east and considering new border management protocols, Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: “Over the years, a series of treaties and agreements signed by China and India on maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have played an important role in upholding stability along the China-India border”.

As per the transcript of the media briefing posted on a Chinese embassy website, he went on to blame India for the LAC faceoff, saying: “The Galwan Valley incident last year was caused by the Indian side's illegal trespass of the LAC to encroach on Chinese territory, in violation of previously-signed treaties and agreements”. 

“We hope that the Indian side will strictly abide by relevant treaties and agreements signed by the two countries and take concrete actions to safeguard peace and stability in the China-India border areas,” he added. 

Military Talks & India’s Position

The 12th round of the India-China Corps Commander level meeting was held on July 31 at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side.

The meeting aimed to reach an agreement for the next phase of disengagement in Hot Springs, Gogra, and other remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

The Indian Army had issued a joint statement informing that both sides agreed to resolve these remaining issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations.

India has maintained its position on the LAC issue as Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had on Monday said that "Chinese attempts over the last year to unilaterally alter the status quo in Ladakh have seriously disturbed peace and tranquility in the border areas”. 

“These acts are in violation of our bilateral agreements and have inevitably impacted other aspects of the bilateral relationship," he had stated, speaking at the 6th JP Morgan ‘India Investor Summit’.

He revealed India made it clear to the Chinese side that peace and tranquillity in border areas are essential for the development of their mutual relationship.

“Development of India-China relationship can only be based on ‘three mutuals’- mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interests,” he said, as per the statement shared by the Union external affairs ministry.