India’s decision to develop infrastructure and the deployment of troops along the border with China are the root causes of the tension, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, adding that Beijing is against New Delhi building. military facilities near the disputed boundary.
“For some time, the Indian side has been increasing infrastructure development along the border and increasing military deployment which is the root cause of tensions between the two sides,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
“We urge the Indian side to seriously implement our consensus and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation and take concrete measures to safeguard peace and tranquility along the border,” Zhao said at the ministry’s regular press conference.
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Zhao was responding to a question about building all-weather Indian bridges in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh that would give access to the disputed border.
The strengthening of India’s infrastructure in border areas along the Royal Line of Control (ALC) comes amid the worst border tension with China in decades in eastern Ladakh, where border troops from the two countries they have been locked in a confrontation since May.
Several rounds of diplomatic and military talks have failed to resolve the situation and withdraw the troops.
Last week, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 44 bridges built by the Army’s Border Roads Organization (BRO), among the 102 bridges he is building.
An Indian official told the Hindustan Times in New Delhi that 30 of the 44 bridges commissioned are on the route to LAC from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
Zhao reiterated Beijing’s views on both Indian regions.
“First, I want to make it clear that China does not recognize the Ladakh Union Territory illegally established by the Indian side and Arunachal Pradesh,” Zhao said.
“We oppose the development of infrastructure facilities for military containment along the border area. Based on the consensus of the two parties, neither party should take action along the border that may aggravate the situation, that is, to avoid undermining the efforts of the two parties to alleviate the situation, ”Zhao added.
While China claims that Arunachal Pradesh is part of “southern Tibet”, it reacted strongly after India stripped the former state of Jammu and Kashmir of special status under article 370 of the Constitution and decided in August 2019 to fork it into territories. Union – J&K and Ladakh.
“China has always opposed the inclusion of Chinese territory by India in the administrative jurisdiction of India on the western part of the China-India border. This position is firm, consistent and has never changed, “the Foreign Ministry had said in a statement.
China continues to hold a grudge over Ladakh’s status change despite India’s explanation that the change would not affect LAC.
During his visit to Beijing last year, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that there were no implications of the change “neither for the external borders of India nor for the Royal Line of Control (LAC ) with China. India was not raising any additional territorial claims. “
“The legislative measures were aimed at promoting better governance and socio-economic development,” he had said, referring to J&K.
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