Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that China has been very clearly conveyed that any attempt to “unilaterally” change the status quo across LAC is not acceptable at all, although he acknowledged that India faces a “challenge” in the region. In a statement in Lok Sabha, Singh said there should be no question about the country’s determination to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stated that India’s armed forces are ready to deal with “all contingencies” in the great region. altitude.
Referring to the clashes in the Galwan Valley on June 15, the defense minister said that Indian soldiers “inflicted costs, including casualties on the Chinese side,” adding that the House should have “full confidence” that the forces Armed forces will always rise to the challenge and will make the country proud. “I will not hesitate to share with this august House that we are facing a challenge in Ladakh and I urge the House to pass a resolution in support of our armed forces that have been defending our homeland at great heights and in the most inclement weather conditions.” . he said.
He said that although the situation this year is very different, both in terms of the scale of troops involved and the number of sticking points, India remains committed to the peaceful resolution of the current situation. “At the same time, the Chamber can be sure that we remain prepared to face all contingencies,” said the defense minister. Singh also touched on his talks with the Chinese defense minister on the sidelines of a multilateral meeting in Moscow recently, saying that it was clear to him that while India wants to resolve the dispute peacefully, there should be no question about its determination to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“I conveyed in clear terms our concerns related to the actions of the Chinese side, including the accumulation of large numbers of troops, their aggressive behavior and attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo that violated bilateral agreements,” he said. In military and diplomatic talks, Singh said, India has upheld three key principles which are: “Both sides should strictly respect and observe LAC; neither side should attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo; and all agreements and understandings between the two much parts be fulfilled fully in their entirety. ” He said that the Chinese side, for its part, took the position that the situation should be handled responsibly and guarantee peace and tranquility according to bilateral agreements and protocol.
The defense minister said that China’s troop build-up and the violent conduct of the Chinese military violated all mutually agreed norms and pacts. “A key element of the 1993 and 1996 Accords is that the two parties will keep their military forces in the areas along the Royal Line of Control (LAC) at a minimum level,” he added.
Singh also spoke about the five-point agreement reached between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow on September 10, saying: “If implemented sincerely and faithfully by the Chinese side, it could lead to the complete disconnection and restoration of peace and quiet in border areas. ” On the fighting in the Galwan Valley, he also said that the Chinese side “created” a violent confrontation and “our brave soldiers gave their lives and also inflicted costs including casualties on the Chinese side.” Twenty members of the Indian army were killed in the clashes that have significantly escalated tensions between the two countries. “I want to tell you that I have felt your indomitable courage, gallantry and bravery. As you know, Colonel Santosh Babu, along with his 19 brave soldiers, made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of defending the territorial integrity of India.” he said.
The Chinese side also suffered casualties, but details have not yet been released. “The conduct of our armed forces throughout these incidents shows that while they maintained ‘Sayyam’ (self-control) in the face of provocative actions, they also displayed ‘Shaurya’ (courage) when required to protect the territorial integrity of India, “he said.
The defense minister said that the Chinese side had taken steps to “hamper” the normal and traditional patrol pattern of Indian troops in the Galwan valley area, resulting in the clash. “Even when the ground commanders were addressing this situation in accordance with the provisions of our bilateral agreements and protocols, in mid-May, the Chinese side made several attempts to transgress LAC in other parts of the western sector,” he said.
This included Kongka La, Gogra and North Bank of Pangong Lake and that the attempts were caught early and consequently the military responded appropriately. “I would like the House to join me in recognizing the courage and bravery of our soldiers, who are going through immense hardship in the most difficult conditions to keep us all safe and secure,” Singh said.
The defense minister said India made it clear to the Chinese side through diplomatic and military channels that attempting to unilaterally alter the status quo was unacceptable. He also said that China is still in “illegal occupation” of approximately 38,000 square kilometers in the Ladakh Union Territory.
Furthermore, under the so-called “Boundary Agreement” between China and Pakistan of 1963, Pakistan illegally gave up 5,180 square kilometers. from Indian territory in Pakistani-occupied Kashmir to China. He said China also claims about 90,000 square kilometers. of Indian territory in the eastern sector of the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh
The defense minister said that the Chinese side has mobilized a large number of troops and weaponry throughout LAC, as well as in the deep areas, adding that there are several areas of friction in eastern Ladakh, including Gogra, Kongka The and the north and south banks 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,” he said.
The defense minister also said that even as the discussions continued, the Chinese side again engaged in “provocative military maneuvers” on the night of August 29 and 30 in an attempt to change the status quo in the South Bank area of Pangong Lake. . “But once again, the timely and firm actions of our armed forces throughout LAC prevented such attempts from being successful,” he added. The defense minister also provided a historical perspective on the dispute, noting that China does not accept the usual and traditional alignment of the border between the two countries.
“We believe that this alignment is based on well-established geographic principles confirmed by treaties and agreements, as well as historical use and practice, well known for centuries by both parties,” he said. “The Chinese position, however, is that the border between the two countries has not been formally delimited, that there is a traditional traditional line formed by the extension of jurisdiction that, according to them, was historically exercised by each party, and that both parties have different interpretations of the position of the traditional traditional line, ”he said.
Singh said the two countries had engaged in discussions during the 1950s and 1960s, but that these efforts could not produce a mutually acceptable solution. After the defense minister’s statement, Congress wanted to raise certain issues that were not allowed by President Om Birla. Unhappy with this, members of Congress left the House.
India and China reached an agreement to resolve their border dispute during the meeting between Jaishankar and Wang in Moscow on the sidelines of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The agreement included measures such as the rapid withdrawal of troops, avoiding actions that could increase tensions, compliance with all agreements and protocols on border management, and steps to restore peace in LAC.
The Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been locked in a tense clash in multiple areas throughout LAC in eastern Ladakh since early May. On Monday, shots were fired across LAC for the first time in 45 years, and the two sides accused each other of shooting into the air.
In the five rounds of talks at the corps commander level, the Indian side has been insisting on the immediate restoration of the status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh before April. The confrontation began on May 6. According to government sources, the Indian army will not lower its guard and will maintain the current state of very high level of combat readiness in eastern Ladakh until there are visible changes in the ground situation.
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