Beijing rejects claim, says India violated its territorial integrity
Tension flared up at the already volatile Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh when the Chinese troops tried to intrude into India at the Pangong Tso (lake) on the intervening night of August 29-30. The alert Indian troops foiled the aggression.
Not willing to let things go out of hand, the two sides held Brigadier-level meeting on Monday and decided to maintain peace and abide by pacts to de-escalate.
Denying that its troops crossed the LAC, China claimed that India violated its territorial integrity. China also demanded that India immediately withdraw its troops to maintain peace.
Given the situation at the LAC in the region where stand-off is on for the last more than three months and the latest “provocative” step on the southern side of the Pangong Tso by the Chinese, the Indian Army has rushed more troops to the region, sources said.
Also, movement for general traffic was restricted on the nearly 400-km long Srinagar-Leh highway to enable the military convoys to move fast. The Chinese have also deployed additional troops there leading to surcharged atmosphere in the region.
Both sides have enhanced vigil all along the 4,000 km long LAC from Ladakh in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east. Moreover, the Indian armed forces are now on alert mode to meet any challenge, sources said.
A three-month face-off is already on the northern bank of the Pangong Tso between “Finger 4” and “Finger 8” sector. Despite agreeing to disengage in the several rounds of military-level talks, the Chinese have refused to withdraw their troops from there. They also have of late erected more tents and built bunkers indicating their intent.
Giving details of the latest move on August 29-30 (Saturday last), sources said here on Monday the Chinese troops carried out “provocative” military movements to change the status quo” near Pangong Tso.
Timely intelligence reports enabled the Indian troops to block the Chinese patrol of more than 300 soldiers, they said. The failed bid took place on the south bank of the Pangong Tso, which is of huge significance as it is a new area, officials said. This area falls in the Chushul sector.
In an official statement, the Army said, “On the night of August 29/30, PLA troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo.”
“Indian troops preempted this PLA activity on the southern bank of Pangong Tso lake, undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on ground,” it said.
The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility through dialogue but is also equally determined to protect its territorial integrity. A Brigade Commander level Flag Meeting is in progress at Chushul to resolve the issues,” the statement said.
Top level officials also said there were no physical skirmishes and as the Army was aware of the Chinese move, the troops established themselves in a move to block the Chinese advance.
The Pangong Tso is one of the four friction points on the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
Denying that its troops acted aggressively and crossed the LAC on August 29-30, China instead claimed India was the transgressor and asked it to withdraw its troops from the Chinese territory.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, “Chinese border troops always strictly abide by the LAC. They never cross the line. Border troops on the two sides have been in close communication regarding the issues on the ground”.
Asked about any meeting going on to resolve the issue, he said, “What I said is that the two sides through diplomatic and military channels maintain close communication. As to specific meetings and talks, if there is anything we will release it in timely manner.”
Meanwhile, the Western Theatre Command of the Chinese army said the Indian troops have violated the consensus reached at the multi-level talks between India and China and again crossed the LAC at the border on Monday and purposely launched provocations. China strongly opposes the acts and urges India to immediately withdraw the troops that have illegally crossed the LAC.
The spokesperson of the Western Theater Command, Colonel Zhang Shuili said on Monday the Indian Army undermined the consensus reached during the early multi-level talks between the two sides. The Indian side’s move has seriously violated China’s territorial sovereignty, severely undermined the peace and stability of the Sino-Indian border area, and rebelled against it. China strongly opposes this, he said.
“We solemnly request the Indian side to immediately withdraw its illegally crossing troops, strictly control and restrain the front-line troops, earnestly abide by its commitments, and avoid further escalation of the situation. The Chinese military is taking necessary countermeasures and will pay close attention to developments and resolutely safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and peace and stability in border areas,” he said.