In a controversial move, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops to prepare for war amid a border dispute with India, according to reports on Wednesday.
Jinping called on Chinese troops to “put all (their) minds and energies into preparing for war” on a visit to a military base in Guangdong province on October 13 (Tuesday), CNN reported, citing the news agency. china Xinhua.
The comments were made when the PLA Marine Corps was inspecting the city of Chaozhou, CNN added, citing Xinhua. According to Xinhua, Xi ordered the troops to “maintain a state of high alert” and asked them to be “absolutely loyal, absolutely pure and absolutely trustworthy.”
Xi’s visit to Guangdong was to deliver a speech on Wednesday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. It was established in 1980 and played an important role in helping China’s economy to become the second largest in the world.
The development comes amid India-China tension on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. On Tuesday, both nations agreed to focus on a mutually acceptable solution to the disengagement as soon as possible after holding talks for about 11 hours. The meeting at the Seventh Corps Commander level between India and China to address the situation in LAC ended at around 11:30 pm on October 12 (Monday).
“Both parties agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, and to reach a mutually acceptable solution for the disconnection as soon as possible,” the statement also added. “Both parties agreed to seriously implement the important understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, not to turn differences into disputes, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas,” he added.
“On October 12, the seventh round of the meeting of senior commanders of India and China was held in Chushul. The two sides had a sincere, deep and constructive exchange of views on the disconnection along the Royal Line of Control. in the western sector of India – China border areas. They considered these discussions to be positive, constructive and improved understanding of the positions of others, “he added.
Meanwhile, a day after Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh opened bridges in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, China on October 13 (Tuesday) took offense and took aim at India. China had said that India has been increasing infrastructure development “along the border and increasing military deployment.” Furthermore, he accused India of causing tension between the two nations.
Heralding a new era in highway and bridge connectivity in sensitive areas near the western, northern and northeast borders, Singh on October 12 (Monday) dedicated 44 major permanent bridges to the nation. The bridges are located in J&K (10), Ladakh (08), Himachal Pradesh (02), Punjab (04), Uttarakhand (08), Arunachal Pradesh (08) and Sikkim (04).
However, China refusing to recognize Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh raised a problem about the bridges that India has built within its territory. China had said: “The Indian side has been increasing infrastructure development along the border and increasing military deployment, that is the root cause of tension between the two sides.”
Responding to a question that China had said: “First, I want to make it clear that China does not recognize the Union Territory of Ladakh, illegally established by India and also by Arunachal Pradesh. China opposes the development of infrastructure facilities intended for the military containment along the border area. According to the consensus of the two parties, neither party should take measures that could aggravate the situation. That could also undermine efforts to alleviate the situation. “
He added: “For some time, the Indian side has been stepping up infrastructure development along the border and increasing military deployment, which is the root cause of tension between the two sides. China calls on the Indian side to seriously implement consensus between the two parties and refrain from taking actions that may aggravate the situation and take concrete measures to safeguard peace and tranquility along the border. “
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