Asks India to refrain from actions that could “complicate” the border dispute
China on Saturday called on India “to refrain from taking any action that could complicate” the border dispute, in a statement that appeared to hit out at Defence Minister A.K. Antony's visit to Arunachal Pradesh earlier this week to mark the 25th anniversary of its statehood.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry “asked India to work with China to maintain peace and stability in border areas”, in a statement issued here on Saturday evening through the official Xinhua news agency.
The statement was a response to news reports of Indian officials “participating in activities organised by the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh' region,” Xinhua said. China, which holds claims on the State, refers to the region as “south Tibet.”
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said China's position on border issues, as well as the dispute over the eastern section of the border, was “consistent and clear-cut.” “China advocates seeking a fair and rational solution through equal and friendly negotiations,” he said, adding that India needed “to refrain from taking any action that could complicate the issue”.
While the statement did not directly mention Mr. Antony's visit, his attendance at the February 20 celebrations in Itanagar, marking the 25th anniversary of Statehood Day, was the apparent trigger. It, however, remains unclear why the Foreign Ministry waited five days to issue the statement.
Speaking at Monday's celebrations, Mr. Antony had described border security as a “topmost priority,” and said that New Delhi would give serious consideration to proposals made by the State government to boost infrastructure in border areas, according to media reports. He did not, however, directly refer to either China or the border dispute in his remarks.
China first began to strongly stress its claims and refer to the region as “south Tibet” in the late 1980s, coinciding with the declaration of Statehood. Chinese analysts have said they viewed the move as an attempt by India to enforce its territorial claims.
15 rounds of talks
India and China have held 15 rounds of talks over the long-running border dispute, making little progress towards arriving at a framework to resolve disputes in the western, middle and eastern sectors. Before the late 1980s, analysts say, China had appeared more concerned about the western sector and the Aksai Chin region, which is presently under its effective control. However, it has since begun to increasingly stress its claims on Arunachal, particularly the Tawang region which is the site of an important Tibetan Buddhist monastery.
Keywords: Antony Arunachal visit, Arunachal Pradesh Statehood celebration, India-China border dispute
Some nations maintain problems on all frontiers of their geographical territory. This is true for China. It has border problems or has had the same with Soviet Russia (till last decade of the last century), Vietnam, Myanmar, Taiwan, India. Claim of China over Arunachal Pradesh of India is one-sided and it is impossible for any of the Indian governments to accept this. It is again impossible for China to settle this 'border dispute' by waging another war against India in the present state, although it can expect that fifth column is available among some brand of Indian communists still. China, with authoritarian form of government in the name of so-called 'proletariat dictatorship' and with no respect for democracy, will never find reasons to follow the policy of 'live and let live'.
On the other hand, India, tired with much-stained leaders in its political platform, will behave like a rabbit when face of a lion it should have for all practical purposes.
The background to this boarder demilitation issue on Roof of the World (Tibet) was actually done by the Young husband expedition to draw the boundaries of Imperial Britain during late 19th century and co-signed by Czarist Russia in Lhasa.
Neither mainland China (PRC) nor soveeign India was party to above boarder agreement. It was never marked on the ground - but only on a map. So how in the world are these two emerging neighbours going to agree on what's their exact national boarder along the so called (UK) McMahon Line?
My feeling is that PLA and Indian Army are both twisting the arms of their national governments for strategic reasons.
This dispute will not be settled in one generation, methinks.
Our nation is full of khumbhakernas
in parliaments added to it with corrupt civil Secretariat people who
are appointed to guide people elected in parliament by spending crore
of money to buy party ticket to get elected in parliament, now these
people are so busy to save their chair in ministry that the protection
of national border becomes a secondary thing for them and since this
nation has history of invaders which came in to rule as per their
wish as population here is very submissive and get readily adapted to
clean invaders toilet happily ever after but its high time this antics
should come to close full stop and we as Indians have the best of the
world soldiers and if trained by Israel and Americans can make the
Hans run into pacific ocean to live underneath the sea for ever.
High time govt of India should appoint retired Israeli war veterans to
come to India and arm and train our army in north east. Every inch/cm
of indian border be marked.
Arunachal Pradesh Statehood -A dialogue and submission needed for the
border dispute between both country.As Arunachal Pradesh is internal
part of INDIA,a rightful and legitimate owner with international border
and its territories,a constructive method of reforms needed for solving
the border dispute.
Despite knowing political and geographical maps, proclaiming about
owning of certain territory, seems bizarre.
India should take firm steps to resolve these matters. China’s
interest in Indian territory has been increased since three
decades. Exchanging dialog should be the first preference to
resolve these issues. Hopefully India would come up with some
diplomatic channel to cope these situations.
India should stay firm and yet polite in the face of provocations. India should beef up its defenses along the border areas, India cannot allow a repetition of 1962. India would much rather pursue independent foreign policies -- it will be very difficult to take on a combined China-Pakistan axis in an actual war if it comes to that.
I strongly believe we should make our stand on Arunachal very clear to
China, and also not support their stand on Tibet meekly. The reality is
that in today's world neither of the countries can afford a war, and
hence there is no point in being so humble and meek or submissive.
India should vehemently reject Chinese stance on Arunachal Pradesh. China is growing day by day as economic power with help from US and Europe but irrelevant to us. Let the Chinese leadership be mature enough not to indulge in each and every Indian government's activity.
Actually China is recognizing the boundary line with the Myanmar based on the McMahon line. But when it comes to India it is not recognizing the boundary based on the McMahon line. Because Arunachal Pradesh has lot of resources-HEP and minerals. In the western sector everyone knew that not even a blade of grass can grow in the region.So Chinese are now concentrating more on eastern sector.
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