China on Monday shrugged off the Indian military’s concern over five missing civilians in Arunachal Pradesh, saying Beijing has never recognized the status it claims is part of southern Tibet.
The Indian army had asked China over the weekend if the missing Indians were in the custody of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
“China’s position on the eastern section of the China-India border and southern China’s Tibet is consistent and clear. We have never recognized the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established on Chinese territory, ”Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at the ministry’s regular briefing on Monday.
“Regarding the details, you mentioned that I am not aware of that right now,” Zhao said in response to a query about the missing indigenous people.
The Indian army had contacted its Chinese counterpart about the five missing civilians, who were hired as guides and porters by the Indian army in Upper Subansiri district on the China-India border on Saturday.
The alleged abductees have been identified as Toch Singkam, Prasat Ringling, Dongtu Ebiya, Tanu Baker and Ngaru Diri. They had gone hunting in the jungle when they were allegedly abducted by the PLA.
In February, China had strongly opposed Interior Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the visit had violated its territorial sovereignty and “sabotaged” mutual trust with India.
China claims that Arunachal Pradesh is part of southern Tibet and routinely and harshly criticizes the visit of any Indian officials visiting the region.
In November, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had similarly criticized Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the state to review the security situation in the border region.
India-China relations have reached a multi-decade low since clashes in Ladakh in June that killed 20 Indian soldiers. Since then, both sides have stepped up control of their 3,488 km, largely unstable border.
“We spoke to them (the PLA) on the hotline and told them that some people were suspected of having crossed their side and we would appreciate it if you could return them, as we normally do,” Lieutenant Colonel Harsh Wardhan Pande, Indian Army spokesman, he told the Reuters news agency.
“There is no sharp line through the forest or the mountains, so they keep moving here and there. So they could have gone there. It’s very normal, ”he said, adding that they still had no news from the Chinese.
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