The Centre on Monday downplayed reports of yet another border violation by China, with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna describing the boundary as “most peaceful.”
He told correspondents here that the border with China was “one of the most peaceful boundaries that we have had.”
Reports of incursions were not any cause for concern, he said. India shared a long border with China, and incidents or incursions were sorted out through a mechanism.
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Such issues were taken up at periodic flag meetings held in various sectors at different times, sources in the Defence Ministry said. Last week, sources in the External Affairs Ministry said the reports of incursions should also be seen in the context of India and China not having a mutually agreed Line of Actual Control. The Ministry had sought an early clarification from China, the sources said, and a response was awaited.
Mr. Krishna said the special representatives on the boundary issue were working towards addressing the different conceptions of the international border. The 13th round of meeting was held recently. A news agency reported that after two helicopters intruded into the Indian airspace, Chinese troops moved nearly 1.5 km into the Indian territory near Mount Gya.
Sources in the Defence Ministry maintained that the issue was “overplayed,” and the terrain added to the problem. Furthermore, transgressions occurred because there was no mutually agreed border.
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