Beijing points the finger at infrastructure development, India’s deployments throughout LAC.
One day after Marathon of conversations between corps commanders, held in Chushul in eastern Ladakh, failed to reach an agreement on disengagement, China said on Tuesday that the “root cause” of the recent tensions was India’s infrastructure development and military deployments along the Real Control Line (LAC).
China’s claim, which Indian officials have previously rejected, pointing to the buildup of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops, multiple transgressions, and the attempt to unilaterally redesign the LAC since May, underscores the difficulty that the seven rounds of military talks they have struggled to advance the stalled disengagement process and achieve the return to the status quo that India has demanded.
After the sixth round on September 21Both parties, in a joint statement, agreed to “stop sending more troops to the front.” The troop build-up, however, remains, and Indian officials believe that the Chinese side may be preparing for the long haul and harsh winter ahead.
Tuesday’s joint press release did not provide clarity on a possible timetable for the withdrawal. He said the two sides held in the seventh round of talks on Monday “a sincere, profound and constructive exchange of views on the disconnection along the Royal Line of Control in the Western Sector of the border areas between India and China.” .
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“They were of the opinion that these discussions were positive, constructive and had improved understanding of the positions of others,” the statement said. “Both parties agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, and to reach a mutually acceptable solution for the disengagement as soon as possible. Both parties agreed to seriously implement the important understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, not to turn differences into disputes and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas.
The statement did not mention a return to the status quo ahead of May’s transgressions by China, a prospect that seems unlikely in light of the PLA’s entrenchment of its positions in areas such as the north shore of (lake) Pangong Tso. .
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The spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responding to a question in a daily briefing about the opening of new bridges in India as part of the improvement of border infrastructure in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, blamed India for the situation. of LAC and said that Beijing did not recognize the legality of Ladakh, a position that Beijing took last year when opposing the creation of the Union Territory because it included within its borders Aksai Chin, currently occupied by China.
“First, I want to make it clear that China does not recognize the Ladakh Union Territory illegally established by the Indian side and [does not recognise] Arunachal Pradesh, ”said the spokesman, Zhao Lijian. “We oppose the development of infrastructure facilities for military containment along the border area. Based on the consensus of the two parties, neither should take measures along the border that may aggravate the situation to avoid undermining the efforts of the two parties to alleviate the situation. “
He said: “For some time, the Indian side has been increasing infrastructure development along the border and increasing military deployment, which is the root cause of tensions between the two sides. We urge the Indian side to seriously implement our consensus and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation and take concrete measures to safeguard peace and tranquility along the border. “
Expansion of the Tibet railway network
China has already improved its border infrastructure in Tibet and Xinjiang, and enjoys an asymmetry in its favor. It is also in the process of expanding its railway network in Tibet to the border. India has been moving to accelerate the construction of roads and bridges to reduce the gap.
Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh inaugurated 44 permanent bridges on Monday in seven states and Union territories built by the Border Roads Organization (BRO). He said the bridges provide better connectivity and would meet the transportation and logistics requirements of the military throughout the year.
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