India asks China to discipline and control their frontline troops
NEW DELHI | SEPT 02, 2020:
India said the Chinese Army carried out provocative acts on 29th, 30th and 31st August even as talks to defuse tensions went on.
In response to a media query on the recent developments in the India-China Border Areas, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India has taken up the matter of recent provocative and aggressive actions with the Chinese side through both diplomatic and military channels.
He said India has urged them to discipline and control their frontline troops from undertaking such provocative actions.
India and China have been closely engaged through diplomatic and military channels over the past three months to resolve the situation along the India-China border.
The two Foreign Ministers and the two Special Representatives had agreed that the situation should be handled responsibly and either side should not take any provocative action or escalate matters and ensure peace and tranquillity as per bilateral agreements and protocol.
The spokesperson said the Chinese side, however, violated this understanding and engaged in provocative military manoeuvres in the late night of 29th and on 30th August in an attempt to change the status quo in the South Bank area of Pangong Lake.
The Indian side responded to these provocative actions and took appropriate defensive measures along the LAC to safeguard the nation's interests and defend the territorial integrity.
Srivastava said that on Aug 31 even as the ground commanders of the two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation, the Chinese troops again engaged in provocative action. Due to the timely defensive action, the Indian side was able to prevent these attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo.
The spokesperson said the actions and behaviour of the Chinese side since earlier this year along the LAC has been in clear violation of the bilateral agreements and protocols concluded between the two countries to ensure peace and tranquillity on the border.
He said such actions are also in complete disregard to the understandings reached between the two Foreign Ministers as also the Special Representatives.
