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NEW DELHI: Days after Indian and Chinese troops clashed in two fierce clashes, India said Thursday that it remained committed to maintaining peace and tranquility along the border with China, noting that such incidents could have been avoided if there would be a common perception about the border.
On May 5, around 250 members of the Indian and Chinese army personnel clashed with iron rods, sticks and even resorted to throwing stones in the Pangong Tso Lake area in eastern Ladakh. Four days later, there was a similar confrontation near Naku La Pass in North Sikkim.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said that India and China attach the utmost importance to ensuring peace and tranquility in all areas of the border regions between China and India and referred to the statement in this regard by the Prime Minister. Narendra Modi and chinese president Xi Jinping at its two informal summits.
“However, occasionally, due to the difference in the perception of the alignment of the Current Control Line (LAC), situations have arisen on the ground that could have been avoided if we had a common perception of the Control Line (LAC), ” he said.
LAC is the de facto border between the two nations.
He further stated: “The Indian side remains committed to the goal of maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas between India and China.”
When asked about the latest incidents, Army Chief Gen. MM Naravane said that Indian troops maintained their “posture” along the border with China, while development of infrastructure in the areas was also in progress. road.
“There were two incidents in eastern Ladakh and northern Sikkim, where aggressive behavior on both sides resulted in minor injuries to the troops that both sides disconnected after dialogue and interaction at the local level,” he said.
The army chief said the two sides “went offline” after dialogue and interaction at the local level.
“It is reiterated that these two incidents are uncorrelated and have no connection to other global or local activities,” he told reporters when asked about the clashes.
“All these incidents are handled by established mechanisms where local formations on both sides resolve problems with each other according to established protocols and strategic guidelines given by the prime minister after the Wuhan and the Mamallapuram summits, “said General Naravane.
He said that the Indian border troops have always maintained peace and tranquility in the border areas.
“I can confidently say that the development of infrastructure capabilities along our northern borders is underway. Our posture of strength will not be affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
The situation in eastern Ladakh is known to have remained tense with troops from the two countries remaining vigilant towards each other, demonstrating an aggressive stance, even nine days after the clash.
The confrontation began on the night of May 5 and both sides decided to “go offline” the next day.
Referring to the two informal summits between Modi and Xi, Srivastava said that the two leaders had also directed their armies to seriously implement various confidence-building measures agreed between the two sides, including the principle of mutual and equal security and strengthen existing institutional agreements and information. exchange mechanisms
“As a result, the India-China border has been largely peaceful,” he said.
Troops from India and China clashed in a 73-day standoff at the Doklam crossing in 2017, even raising fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The border dispute between India and China spans the current 3,488 km Line of Control, the de facto border between the two countries. China’s claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet as India disputes it.
Both sides have been asserting that, pending the final resolution of the boundary problem, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first informal summit in April 2018 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, months after the Doklam clash.
At the summit, the two leaders decided to issue “strategic guidance” to their armies to strengthen communications so that they can build trust and understanding.
Modi and Xi held their second informal summit in Mamallapuram, near Chennai, in October last year, with the aim of further expanding bilateral relations.
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