New Delhi: With India and China engaged through established military and diplomatic channels to address the prevailing situation along the Sino-Indian border, Indian Army spokesperson on June 6 asked the media to refrain from “speculative and unsubstantiated reporting about these engagements.”
The statement came amid high delegation-level talks that began on June 6 morning between the officials of both countries in a bid to resolve the month-long row over the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The foreign ministry officials of both the nations on June 5 discussed the flaring of tensions on the disputed Himalayan border.
The talks are taking place on the Chinese-side of the Chushul-Moldo Border meeting point. The Indian delegation of officials at the meet include Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of 14 Corps along with 10 other officers who were part of the earlier meetings with the Chinese counterparts. From the Chinese side, the delegation is represented by Major General Lin Liu, Corps Commander, South Xinjiang Military Division and 10 other officers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
During June 5 meeting, both sides agreed that in accordance with the guidance provided by their leadership, they “should handle their differences through peaceful discussion bearing in mind the importance of respecting each other’s sensitivities, concerns and aspirations and not allow them to become disputes,” an external affairs ministry statement said.
Meanwhile, a Chinese government mouthpiece said Beijing will not give up an inch of territory but wants “good-neighbourly relations” with New Delhi even as it warned India must not be “fooled by Washington”.
The comments were published in an editorial of the Global Times ahead of June 6 crucial talks between Indian and Chinese army commanders.
“China does not want to fall foul of India. Good-neighbourly relations have been China’s basic national policy over the past decades, and China firmly adheres to a peaceful resolution of border disputes. We have no reason to make India our enemy,” the editorial said.
“But China will not give up any inch of territory. Once India makes a strategic misjudgment and nibbles away at China’s territory, China will never condone it. China is bound to make strong countermeasures. We believe India knows very well that China will not be at a disadvantage in any China-India military operations along the border area,” it said.
India should not be fooled by the US, the editorial also said, as the US is only trying to “serve its own strategic interest”.
“Washington is keen on placing a wedge between countries and drawing countries to its own side. But this serves the US’ strategic pressure on China, instead of other countries’ geopolitical interests,” it said.
