New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has bluntly told his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe that actions by the Chinese military at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were in violation of bilateral agreements and understandings and that Beijing should work with New Delhi for complete disengagement at earliest from all friction areas, including Pangong Lake.
During his meeting with Wei in Moscow last night, Singh also told his counterpart that China should work for “de-escalation in border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols on maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas, strictly respect and observe the line of actual control and should not make attempts to unilaterally change status quo”, according to an official statement issued here today.
Singh said the current situation should be handled responsibly and neither side should take any further action that could either complicate the situation or escalate matters in the border areas, it said.
The meeting, which lasted for 2 hours and 20 minutes, saw “frank and in-depth discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as on India-China relations,” it said.
Singh categorically conveyed India’s position on the developments along the LAC, including in the Galwan valley in the Western Sector of the India-China Border Areas in the last few months.
The Indian Defence Minister told Wei that “the actions of the Chinese troops, including amassing of large number of troops, their aggressive behaviour and attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo were in violation of the bilateral agreements and not in keeping with the understandings reached between the Special Representatives of two sides.
He stated clearly that while the Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach towards border management, “there should also be no doubt about our determination to protect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement said.
The Chinese Defence Minister said both sides should scrupulously implement the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping and continue to solve the issues through dialogue and consultation, strictly follow the various bilateral agreements, strengthen the regulation of frontline troops and not undertake any provocative actions that might escalate the situation.
The two sides should focus on overall situation of India-China relations and work together to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible, and maintain peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas, the Chinese Defence Minister said and suggested that both sides should maintain communication at all levels including between the two Ministers.
Singh said both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas was essential for the further development of our bilateral relations and that two sides should not allow differences to become disputes.
“Accordingly, the two sides should resolve the ongoing situation and outstanding issues in the border areas peacefully through dialogue,” the Indian Defence Minister said.
The Chinese Defence Minister conveyed that Chinese side too desired to resolve the issues peacefully, the statement said.
Singh said the two sides should continue their discussions, including through diplomatic and military channels, to ensure complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC at the earliest.
