Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament on Tuesday that China has engaged in a massive mobilization of troops in the Royal Line of Control (LAC), engaged in aggressive behavior and tried to unilaterally change the status quo. , all in contravention of existing border agreements and pacts. between the two countries.
Faced with this, he said, the Indian armed forces have shown restraint when necessary and courage when necessary, and will defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India in any situation.
In the first official government statement on the floor of the Lok Sabha on the confrontation between India and China in eastern Ladakh, Singh provided the historical background for the border issue; stressed the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility on the border for the progress of bilateral relations; He chronologically described China’s series of aggressive actions and “violent behavior” since April this year; recognized that the current situation is qualitatively different from the past in terms of the number of troops involved and the number of friction points; outlined India’s position and principles on the need to respect LAC; and alluded to the recent understanding between the foreign ministers of both countries in Moscow, categorically placing the responsibility for China to withdraw.
“China’s troop build-up goes against our 1993 and 1996 agreements. Strictly respecting and observing the Royal Line of Control is the basis of peace and tranquility in the border areas and is explicitly recognized in both agreements. While our armed forces scrupulously abide by it, the Chinese side has not reciprocated this … In recent incidents this year, the violent conduct of the Chinese forces has been a complete violation of all mutually agreed norms, ”Singh said.
“So far, the Chinese side has mobilized a large number of troops and weapons throughout LAC and in the deep areas. There are several friction areas in eastern Ladakh, including Gogra, Kongka La, and the northern and southern shores of Lake Pangong. In response to China’s actions, our armed forces have also conducted appropriate counter-deployments in these areas to ensure that India’s security interests are fully protected. The House must have full confidence that our armed forces will always rise to the challenge and make us all proud, “he added.
Singh suggested that there have also been lengthy clashes in the past that were resolved peacefully, but acknowledged that the scale of troop mobilization and the number of sticking points made the current situation different. “We are ready to face any situation,” he said. 
The defense minister also urged the House to pass a resolution expressing admiration for the bravery of Indian soldiers on the front line and solidarity with the troops, as Parliament has done in times of crisis.
Congress withdrew after it was not allowed to speak under House rules after the defense minister finished his speech. Addressing journalists outside Parliament, the congressional leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from Parliament when the defense minister made a statement showed that the government feared an argument in the confrontation.
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“For Congress, the country is the most important thing. We are proud of our armed forces. This government did not allow us to speak in Parliament. They are afraid that Congress will ask questions that they will not be able to answer, ”he said.
Singh began his speech by offering the context of the long-standing border dispute between India and China, saying that Beijing has not accepted traditional alignments, geographical principles, historical usage and border pacts. China, the defense minister said, has 38,000 square kilometers of Indian territory in Ladakh; 5,180 square kilometers of Indian territory in Kashmir was handed over to him by Pakistan in 1963; and has claimed Arunachal Pradesh.
But since 1988 (when then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China), Singh said both countries decided that the border issue needed patience and a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution.” And although both countries had different perceptions of LAC itself, they agreed that peace on the border was essential for the progress of bilateral relations. This, then, led to agreements in 1993 and 1996, which stipulated a minimum troop presence, respect and adherence to LAC, and an understanding to reach a common perception of LAC, a process that China stalled in 2003.
Returning to the current crisis, Singh said that in April, China began mobilizing both troops and weapons. In May, he disrupted regular patrol patterns in the Galwan Valley where there was a clash, and also attempted transgression in the western sector in mid-May, in Kongka La, Gogra and Pangong Tso. Singh said that India conveyed to China, through diplomatic and military channels, that attempts to change the status quo unilaterally will not be acceptable.
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On June 6, there was an understanding about the disconnection. But on June 15, in Galwan, Singh said, “China created a violent situation.” Indian troops made sacrifices and secured the border, but, Singh said emphatically, there were also “heavy casualties” on the Chinese side. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the violent fighting in the Galwan Valley.
Singh said that India, in its communication with China, had clearly established three principles: the need to respect LAC and adhere strictly to it; the need not to change the status quo; and the need to respect all pacts and agreements. But on August 29 and 30, even as the discussions were taking place, Singh said that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) tried to unilaterally change the status quo on the southern shore of Pangong Tso, but the “timely action” of the Indian armed forces repelled the design. .
India, Singh said, participated in the counter-deployment so that India’s security interests were protected no matter the situation. But he added that there were sensitive operational matters involved, which he, even if he wanted to, could not discuss.
The defense minister then addressed the state of the negotiations, while emphasizing that India wants a peaceful solution to the situation. He spoke about his meeting with the Chinese counterpart in Moscow, where they had an in-depth discussion. “I made it clear that while we wanted to peacefully resolve the issue and would like the Chinese side to work with us, there should also be no question about our determination to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.”
He then referred to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart. “The two have reached an agreement that, if the Chinese side applies it sincerely and faithfully, could lead to complete disconnection and the restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas.”
Experts praised the clarity of the minister’s statement. “I believe that the Defense Minister has unequivocally attributed the responsibility for the current tensions to the actions of the PLA and the total disregard for past agreements and protocols. He has also made it clear that while we would prefer that the matter be resolved through dialogue, there will be no compromise with our territorial integrity. This is a strong and clear statement of our intention, ”said former Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General (retired) DS Hooda.
Former Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow for Foreign Policy Studies at Gateway House, said Singh’s statement was a combination of clarity, frankness and confidence and reflected the new phase in the standoff following the meeting of foreign ministers in Moscow and the five-point road map. for the way to go.
“It is a strong statement that reflects India’s national determination. He spoke to three groups: our own people, who have been trusted with what is happening and with India’s strategy to address the situation; the international community because a clear message had not been conveyed to the world that it was China that created this situation by violating all the agreements and that India still wants a peaceful resolution and if this does not happen, it could lead to further deterioration; and the Chinese government and elite, to say that it is still India’s preferred option to settle things through negotiations, ”he said.
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