NEW DELHI: India said on Tuesday that China had made three further attempts to change the status quo along its disputed border in the past, as many days as New Delhi firmly rejected Beijing’s attempts to blame it for a surge in tensions during weekend.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said that China “participated in provocative military maneuvers on the night of August 29 and 30 in an attempt to change the status quo in the South Bank area of Pangong Lake. “.
The Indian army “responded to these provocative actions and took appropriate defensive measures along the LAC (Line of Royal Control) to safeguard our interests and defend territorial integrity,” he said.
“Furthermore, yesterday (Monday) August 31, even as the ground commanders of the two sides were in talks to reduce the situation, the Chinese troops again took provocative actions. Due to timely defensive action, the Indian side was able to prevent these attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo, “he said.
India had addressed the matter of “recent provocative and aggressive actions” with Beijing through diplomatic and military channels, Srivastava said, adding that India had “urged them to discipline and control their front-line troops so that they do not undertake such provocative actions. “.
China’s actions since May throughout LAC have been “a clear violation of the bilateral agreements and protocols concluded between the two countries to guarantee peace and tranquility at the border,” he said.
“Such actions are also totally alien to the understandings reached between the two Foreign Ministers and also the Special Representatives,” he said, referring to two telephone conversations, one in June and the other in July.
India, he said, was “firmly committed to solving all outstanding problems throughout LAC in the western sector through peaceful dialogue.”
“In this context, we hope that the Chinese side will sincerely abide by the understanding previously reached and seriously work with India to resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas,” he added.
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