China on Thursday denied that its troops had crossed into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Uttarakhand. It also declined to comment on reports about the improvement of infrastructure and India’s enhanced military profile in Ladakh.
In response to a question on reports that Chinese forces had crossed into the Indian side of the LAC in Uttarakhand, China’s Defence Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Yang Yujun, said that Chinese troops “always conducted activities on the Chinese side of LAC”. He added: “We are committed to maintain peace and stability along the China-India border.”
Even Parrikar agrees
In New Delhi, Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar also rejected reports that Chinese forces had carried out an “incursion” on the Indian sided of the LAC in Uttarakhand, in the Barahoti sector. “India-China border is not formally demarcated. There are areas where both sides have differing perceptions of LAC. Barahoti (Uttarakhand) is one such area. There was no incursion, just transgression which has been settled. There is a well-defined mechanism to settle such transgressions,” Mr. Parrikar said in the Lok Sabha.
The Chinese spokesman also downplayed reports about India’s enhanced military presence in Ladakh, including deployment of T-72 tanks. “We have taken note of the relevant report”. He added: “I would like to emphasise that China and India are neighbours, partners -- not competitors or enemies.”
‘We want peace, stability on the border’
Colonel Yang also pointed out that “it is the common aspiration of the Chinese and Indian people to maintain peace, stability along the border.” “We hope that Indian side can work for the same direction as the Chinese side and implement the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries and maintain peace tranquility along the China-India border.”
