New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Friday told his Chinese counterpart that Beijing was in violation of border agreements, while New Delhi was being responsible, but there should be no doubt about India’s determination to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also asked China to strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and that China should not make attempts to unilaterally change the status quo.
The minister’s remarks came during the over two-hour meeting with his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe in Russia, marking the first direct face-to-face talks between the political leadership of New Delhi and Beijing since border tensions began early May.
A statement released by the defence ministry Saturday said Singh “categorically conveyed” India’s position on the developments along the LAC, including in the Galwan valley in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas, in the last few months.
“He emphasised that the actions of the Chinese troops, including amassing a large number of troops, their aggressive behaviour and attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo were in violation of the bilateral agreements and not in keeping with the understandings reached between the Special Representatives of two sides,” the statement said.
It added that the minister “stated clearly that while the Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach towards border management, at the same time there should also be no doubt about our determination to protect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Singh is in Russia to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a multilateral grouping that includes New Delhi, Moscow, Beijing, Islamabad and some other Asian states.
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‘Chinese side too desired to resolve issues peacefully’
Singh also said that both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas was essential for the further development of the bilateral relations and that two sides should not allow differences to become disputes.
Accordingly, the two sides should resolve the ongoing situation and outstanding issues in the border areas peacefully through dialogue, he added.
“The Chinese defence minister conveyed that Chinese side too desired to resolve the issues peacefully,” the statement said, adding that Singh advised that it was important, therefore, that the Chinese side work with the Indian side for complete disengagement at the earliest from all friction areas, including Pangong Lake as well as de-escalation in border areas, in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols on maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas.
Singh further said that the current situation should be handled responsibly and that neither side should take any further action that could either complicate the situation or escalate matters in the border areas.
The two sides should continue their discussions, including through diplomatic and military channels, to ensure complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC at the earliest, Singh stated.
China issues statement blaming India, but says talks the focus
The Chinese defence ministry also issued a statement Saturday, saying the cause and truth of the current tension on the border between China and India are very clear, “and the responsibility lies entirely with India”.
“China’s territory cannot be lost, and the Chinese military is fully determined, capable, and confident to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said.
However, it added that both sides should earnestly implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and insist on solving problems through dialogue and consultation.
“It is hoped that the Indian side will strictly abide by the series of agreements reached by the two sides, effectively strengthen the control of the front-line forces, refrain from provoking the current Line of Actual Control, refraining from any actions that may cause the situation to heat up, and refraining from deliberately hyping and spreading negative information.
“The two sides should focus on the overall situation of Sino-Indian relations and regional peace and stability, work together and meet each other halfway, to promote the current situation to cool down as soon as possible, and to maintain peace and tranquility in the Sino-Indian border area,” it added.
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Enough of brave talk. Next time Chink soldiers try to attack or threaten Indian soldiers or border police, allow them to shoot to kill. PLA is big on size an noise. It has very little combat experience.
There is no pint in statements such as “Chinese side too desired to resolve issues peacefully”.
If China truly wanted peace, then India would never have 20 dead soldiers.
The reason China could do this attack is due to the fact that successive Indian governments have shown too much softness for over 60 years.
On the other hand China has grabbed Tibet and forcibly settled Han Chinese population to convert Tibet in to Chinese majority area.
Now they want to do the same thing to Ladakh. All the infrastructure projects in Tibet and Aksai are aimed to further consolidate the gain by settling ethnic Han Chinese in to these territories so that they will become permanent parts of China. They are also forcing the population in “inner magnolia” which is part of China but populated by ethnic Mongolians to speak Mandarin which is the language of Han Chinese. They are forcing the Ughurs in Chinese province of Xinjiang to speak Mandarin and give up their culture.
It is as primitive as it gets in terms of expanding Han Chinese race and Han Chinese culture at the expense of all others!.
If India doesn’t show any toughness, then at next opportunity, large parts of north-east India as well as remaining portion of Ladakh, as well as northern India will be taken by China in next 5 to 10 years. The reason is Chinese think that it is their time to dominate the world and there is no power that can stop them. I was speaking to a Chinese in U.S and he told me that he is afraid of his own country leadership and PLA in particular because they desperately want to go to war with someone. He said they have so many troops that they do not care about the number of dead soldiers. They think individuals are expendable to further the cause of China (their race) in a same way that Islamic extremists are willing to spend life of ordinary muslim people to further the cause of Islam.
Hahahah – nationalist headline. Post what Chinese Defence Minister said to Rajnath: That China will defend every inch of the land, and that India is entirely responsible for current border tensions.