The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday blamed the Indian Army for the latest outbreak of tension in Pangong Tso, near the Royal Line of Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, and demanded that India withdraw its troops from the area. .
In a statement issued late Monday night, the PLA’s Western Theater Command (WTC) alleged that Indian soldiers violated the LAC and crossed at the southern bank of Pangong Tso and the Reqin Pass.
He also warned that the PLA was taking “countermeasures.”
The Chinese military statement did not refer to any ongoing meetings on the ground to quell the new outbreak.
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The official news agency, Xinhua, quoted the WTC spokesman, Senior Colonel Zhang Shuili, as saying: “… on August 31, the Indian army broke the consensus reached in the previous multi-level talks between the two sides and re-crossed illegally the line near the southern shore of Pangong El Lake and the Reqin Pass, blatantly provoking and causing tension on the border.
“China firmly opposes India’s move, which seriously violates China’s territorial sovereignty, seriously undermines peace and stability in the China-India border areas, breaches its commitments and betrays its loyalty,” Zhang said on the harsh statement.
Zhang said India should contain its front-line troops and withdraw from the region.
“We solemnly request the Indian side to immediately withdraw its illegal occupation and control forces, strictly control and restrain its front-line troops, seriously honor its commitments and prevent further escalation of the situation,” Zhang said.
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The spokesperson further added, “The Chinese military is taking necessary countermeasures and will closely monitor developments to resolutely safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and peace and stability in the border areas.”
The tone of the military statement was similar to the statement the WTC had issued on June 16, a day after the deadly confrontation in the Galwan Valley near LAC.
The PLA statement by the military was issued hours after China’s Foreign Ministry said that Chinese troops are “strictly” abiding by the LAC with India, refuting the statement by the Indian army that said the Chinese armed forces had carried out provocative military actions on the southern banks. from Pangong Tso.
Responding to a question about the statement from the Indian army, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that PLA troops never cross the line.
“Chinese border troops always strictly abide by the LAC. They never cross the line. The border troops from the two sides have been in close communication about the problems on the ground, ”said ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
When asked about the ongoing meetings to resolve this new development, he said: “What I said is that the two parties through diplomatic and military channels maintain close communication. As for specific meetings and talks, if there is something, we will make it known in due course ”.
Hours earlier, the Indian army accused Chinese soldiers of trying to upset the status quo.
The statement said that Indian troops had been able to prevent the PLA from attempting to change the facts on the ground.
A flag meeting at the Brigade Commander level is said to be taking place in Chushul to resolve issues on the ground.
There have been several meetings between the two sides to disengage after border troops clashed in the Galwan Valley on June 15, resulting in casualties on both sides.
Chinese troops have been slow to withdraw, particularly around Pangong Tso, the glacial saltwater lake that stretches for 700 square kilometers.
The Chinese effort to expand the border row came just two days after the Defense Ministry in Beijing told India that it should look at the “big picture of bilateral relations” and work with it and take concrete steps to restore the relationship. on the right”. monitoring of normal development “.
India has made it clear that China must work on complete disengagement and then troop reduction in eastern Ladakh, stressing that this can only be achieved through mutually agreed reciprocal actions. The message from New Delhi has been that the Indian military will stand firm in Chinese efforts to alter the status quo and has emphasized that the PLA will have to return to its position from April 20.
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