In the first high-level face-to-face contact between the two parties after border tension erupted in eastern Ladakh in early May, Singh and Wei met for two hours and 20 minutes in Moscow on Friday night. on the sidelines of a defense meeting. ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The officials said Singh conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that the current situation must be handled responsibly and that neither side should take any additional measures that may complicate the situation or make matters worse in the border areas.
He told Wei that the actions of Chinese troops, including the accumulation of large numbers of troops, their aggressive behavior and attempts to unilaterally upset the status quo, violated bilateral agreements, the officials said.
Singh also stressed that the two sides must continue their discussions, including through diplomatic and military channels, to ensure “complete disengagement and de-escalation” throughout LAC as soon as possible.
Singh conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that both sides should be guided by the consensus of the leaders of the two countries that maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas was essential for further development of ties and that the two sides they should not allow differences to occur. disputes.
In the talks, Singh categorically conveyed India’s position on developments throughout LAC, including the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in recent months, the officials said.
They said Singh made it clear that while Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach to border management, at the same time there should also be no question about our determination to protect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tensions flared again in eastern Ladakh after China unsuccessfully tried to occupy Indian territory on the southern shore of Lake Pangong five days ago, when the two sides engaged in diplomatic and military talks to resolve the long border row.
India occupied a series of strategic heights on the southern shore of Pangong Lake and strengthened its presence in the Finger 2 and Finger 3 areas in the region to thwart any Chinese action. China has strongly opposed India’s move. However, India has argued that strategic heights are on its LAC side.
India has also sent additional troops and weapons to the sensitive region following China’s transgression attempts.
Following new attempts by China to change the status quo on the southern shore of Lake Pangong, India has further strengthened its military presence in the region.
Tension between the two sides multiplied after violent clashes in the Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 members of the Indian army were killed. The Chinese side also suffered casualties, but has not yet released details. According to a US intelligence report, the death toll on the Chinese side was 35.
.
