ISLAMABAD – China on Monday denied Indian allegations of fresh”provocation” at Ladakh border, saying that its border troops have alwaysstrictly respected the Line of Actual Control and never crossed it.
“Border troops from both sides have maintained communication over issues onthe ground,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Mondayat a regular press briefing.
The Galwan Valley, which is part of the disputed Ladakh region, is locatedon the Chinese side of the actual control line in the western section ofthe Sino-Indian border. And Chinese soldiers have patrolled the area formany years, according to China’s Defence Ministry.
Indian army, in a statement, accused China of carrying out “provocative”movements on their contested Himalayan border near where 20 Indian troopswere killed in a battle in June.
The statement said the incidents happened in eastern Ladakh on Saturdaynight but did not indicate whether there was a new clash.
Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops “carried out provocative militarymovements to change the status quo” at the border, it said.
It added the two sides were holding military talks on Monday.
On June 15, troops from the two sides fought hand-to-hand combat in which20 Indian troops were killed.
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New Delhi and Beijing have blamed each other for the latest frontiertensions between the two sides who fought a border war in 1962 and havebeen involved in regular showdowns since.
The Chinese and Indian militaries have poured tens of thousands of troopsinto the region since the June fighting. But their military and diplomatictalks on easing tensions are in an apparent stalemate.
The Indian statement said Chinese troops “violated the consensus” to easeborder tensions.
“Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity on the southern bank of PangongTso Lake, undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chineseintentions to unilaterally change facts on ground,” said the ministry.
“A brigade commander level flag meeting is in progress at Chushul toresolve the issues.” -APP/AFP
