India on Monday asserted it will take every step to protect its interests in the wake of deep incursions by Chinese troops into Indian Territory in eastern ladakh.
“We are taking every action to protect our interest. ...We will take every step to protect our interest,” Defence Minister AK Antony told reporters outside Parliament House.
Antony was asked about the Government’s response to the Chinese incursion some 10 to 12 km deep into Indian territory in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector and erecting a tented post.
India and China are holding flag meetings to resolve the issue. The issue was raised by India after the incident came to light some time ago.
A Platoon-strength contingent of China’s People’s liberation Army (PlA) came 10 km inside the Indian territory in Burthe in DBO sector, which is at an altitude of about 17,000 feet, on the night of April 15 and established a tented post there, according to reports that said a Chinese Army Platoon usually consists of around 50 men.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said, “We are still in touch and flag meetings are going on. There is more information to come. We will factor all that and then take a final view.”
“We are addressing this issue in an appropriate manner. We just do not want any departure from proportionality. I do not think we should allow this to get beyond the immediate area and we should retain at that level and not allow it to escape that level,” Khurshid said.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has voiced its concern over Chinese troops incursion “a long way inside” the Indian territory and demanded that the issue should be looked into seriously.
“As far China is concerned, it has come long way inside (our territory). We have last week informed Government of India.... They (China) have come a long way inside and we have well informed them (Centre) in this regard,” Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Jammu. “It is a very serious issue. Again and again they (China) are trying to intrude into our territory. We should seriously look into it,” the Jammu and Kashmir Minister said.
Kichloo said the State Government had last week written to the Centre about it but has not received any response from it yet. “The State Government has written to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) (over the issue of Chinese incursion). I have told you that the government of India has been looking into it seriously. It takes some time, whether it would be resolved through talks or anything else, it would be clear in two to three days,” Kichloo added.