Ladakh Standoff: Chinese Defence Minister Tells Rajnath Singh, "India Responsible For Border Row"

Amid the ongoing border conflict between India and China, the Chinese Defence Minister has reportedly told Rajnath Singh that 'India is entirely responsible for the issue"

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a meeting with the Chinese Defence Minister General Fenghe, in Moscow. (PTI)

India- China Border Row: China on Friday once again tried to blame India for the ongoing border tensions in Ladakh. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was told by his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe during their meeting in Moscow that "responsibility (recent events in Ladakh) lies entirely with India", China's Ministry of Defence has claimed. Also Read|India-China Tensions: Rajnath Singh Meets Chinese Defence Minister In Moscow Following Beijing's Request The Chinese Defence Ministry went on to suggest that Wei Fenghe told the Indian delegation led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that relations between the two countries and the two militaries have been severely affected by the border issue. The cause and truth of current tension on the border between China and India are very clear, and the responsibility lies entirely with India. The conversation between Singh and Wei took place on the sidelines of the China and Russia dominated Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) regional grouping in Moscow at a time when the two are locked in a bitter border row in eastern Ladakh for around four months. It has been reported that Fenghe requested for a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over the India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Both armies have mobilized in friction areas along the LAC in response to the violent Galwan Valley clash where India lost 20 soldiers and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) suffered an unknown number of casualties. This is the first face to face contact at the political level in an attempt to break a deadlock in dialogue between military commanders and diplomats on disengagement and de-escalation. "China's territory cannot be lost, and the Chinese military is fully determined, capable, and confident to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both sides should earnestly implement the important consensus reached by Chairman Jinping and Prime Minister Modi and insist on solving problems through dialogue and consultation," the Chinese Ministry of Defence went on to say. It also expressed hope that "Indian side will strictly abide by the series of agreements reached by the two sides, effectively strengthen the control of the front-line forces, refrain from provoking the current line of actual control, refrain from any actions that may cause the situation to heat up, and refrain from deliberately hyping and spreading negative information". "The two sides should focus on the overall situation of Sino-Indian relations and regional peace and stability, work together and meet each other halfway, to promote the current situation to cool down as soon as possible, and to maintain peace and tranquillity in the Sino-Indian border area," the statement said. China's Ministry of Defence even claimed Rajnath Singh said that under the current situation, border peace and stability are of vital importance to bilateral relations. "We should maintain open channels for dialogue at all levels of the military and diplomacy between the two sides, and resolve issues peacefully through dialogue and consultation," the statement went on to add. "It is hoped that the two sides will adopt a responsible attitude to achieve full disengagement of front-line forces as soon as possible, avoid taking measures that escalate or complicate the situation, prevent differences from becoming disputes, and push the relations between the two countries and the armed forces back on track as soon as possible," China's Defence Ministry said. Also Watch|India responsible for border row: Chinese Defence Minister "India won't compromise" India on its part says the current tensions on the border area due to Chinese intrusions into India and has demanded a return to positions held by both countries in April, i.e. prior to the start of tensions. Hours ahead of the Singh-Wei talks in Moscow, Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told an event organised by the government-backed Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on Friday that India will not compromise on its sovereignty and territorial integrity and ties with China cannot go back to normal unless peace and tranquility were restored along the common border.