New Delhi: Mincing no words regarding the standoff in Arunachal Pradesh, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Tuesday made it clear to China that the state of affairs along the border is of utmost importance to India and will have a bearing on the broader bilateral relationship.
The statement came in response to a specific question asked by ThePrint on the ongoing standoff between India and Chinese units in Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.Sources in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint that the “situation was well under control”.
Incidentally, the development come just a month before the upcoming BRICS Summit, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi.
At the weekly press conference by the MEA, ThePrint asked for an “update on the military situation between China and Arunachal Pradesh” and whether this “standoff issue had been taken up diplomatically.”
“In matters relating to border areas, between India and China, we have always emphasised in discussions with the Chinese side that we consider these issues as most serious and that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in these areas is of the utmost importance,” MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response.
“We have also stated that the state of border affairs will reflect on the state of our larger bilateral ties. This was also reiterated at the 36th WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs) meeting on the India-China border affairs which was held on the 6th (August), and you are already aware of the statement that we have put out.”
The two sides, Jaiswal said, engaged in frank discussions and reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Indian side again underlined that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations, he added.
“It was agreed to continue to use existing mechanisms, diplomatic and military channels including the WMCC local commander level meetings and other agreed mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the LAC.”
Asked again by another journalist on the specifics, the spokesperson asserted that the Indian stand was already mentioned to the media.
According to information received so far, the faceoff happened late July when Indian and Chinese patrol parties came face to face in an area called Taksing, the remote border village in Upper Subansiri district abutting the Tibet–China region.
The incident is said to have happened some 2.5 km inside the LAC. The usual banner protocol, under which both sides claim they are in their area, was carried out and the Chinese pulled back.
However, it is learnt that the Chinese came back in early August and set up 2-3 tents. The Army is yet to respond to queries on this matter.
Incidentally, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu had in February inaugurated the Tsari Taksing Gajang Shedup Dargeyling Monastery at Taksing. Khandu had announced that Taksing would be developed as a tourism circuit in view of its historical and religious significance in Buddhism.
The CM explained that Taksing is associated with the ancient Tsari (Rong Kora) pilgrimage, which attracted pilgrims from Tibet and other regions until the mid-20th century. Efforts are underway, he said, to revive the pilgrimage in a regulated manner in consultation with the Army and the central government.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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