NEW DELHI: A day after the inauguration of 44 bridges built by the Border Roads Organization to facilitate the smooth movement of Indian armed forces, particularly along its northern borders, China on Tuesday described the development of border infrastructure of India, along with an enhanced military deployment, as the “Root Cause” of the current tensions throughout LAC.
Iterating that China did not recognize what it described as the so-called Union Territory of Ladakh “Illegally established” by India and also Arunachal pradeshChinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Beijing opposed India’s infrastructure construction activity aimed at “military strife” in disputed border areas.
India has long maintained that all activities related to infrastructure improvement in border areas have been carried out on its side of the royal line of control. Despite the fact that China has repeatedly opposed road construction in Ladakh’s border areas, Indian government sources have said there will be no truce on infrastructure-related work on the Indian side of LAC.
The Chinese statement, however, again underlines a tightening of the posture at a time when Indian and Chinese troops are in close proximity throughout LAC and even a false move can lead to hostilities. The comments fuel the perception that both sides are in a cold situation during winters.
The statements by the Chinese spokesman, who also urged the Indian side not to take any steps to complicate the situation, are also significant, as they go against the small progress that could have been achieved in the seventh round of military talks for disengagement. Monday. . A joint press release described the meeting as positive and constructive, adding that both sides had an “improved understanding” of each other’s position on the withdrawal of front-line troops. This duality has marked a diplomatic and military game of cat and mouse in the confrontation.
“Based on the consensus recently reached by the two sides, neither side should take any action that may complicate the situation in the border region, so that bilateral efforts to ease tension are not undermined,” said spokesman Zhao .
“For a while, the Indian side has been stepping up infrastructure construction and military deployment along the border with China. This is the root cause of tensions. We urge the Indian side to seriously implement the consensus reached by the two sides, refrain from taking actions that complicate the situation and take concrete measures to safeguard peace and tranquility along the border.
Significantly, while not singling out India, China on Tuesday also criticized the Indo-Pacific concept with the foreign minister. Wang Yi saying it aimed at building an “Indo-Pacific NATO” backed by the quadrilateral mechanism involving the United States, Japan, India and Australia. Wang appeared to unleash Chinese discontent over the Quad’s second ministerial meeting, which took place recently in Tokyo amid the China-India border standoff, as he said the Indo-Pacific sought to tout the Cold War mentality and ` “ stir, promote confrontation between different groups and blocs and fuel geopolitical competition. ”
Both China and Russia have serious reservations about the Indo-Pacific, believing that it is only meant to contain Beijing. “ What it maintains is the dominance and hegemonic system of the United States” Wang said, according to international media reports.
However, India has always held that the Indo-Pacific is a free, open, transparent and inclusive concept with Asean at its center. Even at the Quad meeting, while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for collaboration against the exploitation, corruption and coercion of the Chinese Communist Party, India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar , was much more moderate in emphasizing that the objective was to promote the security and economic interests of all countries that have “ legitimate and vital interests ” in the region.
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