BEIJING – China Friday firmly opposed Indian defence minister’s visit toArunachal Pradesh and urged the Indian side to respect Chinese interestsand concerns and stop taking any actions that may complicate the boundarymatter between the two countries.
“The Chinese government never acknowledges the so-called Arunachal Pradesh.We firmly oppose the activities conducted in that area by Indian officialsor leaders,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Geng Shuang said whileresponding to a question regarding Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’svisit to Tawang area in Arunachal Pradesh.
Singh visited Tawang on Thursday for the ‘Maitree Diwas’ celebrations toboost ‘civil-military friendship’ in the region bordering China.
“We urge the Indian side to respect Chinese interests and concerns, andstop taking any actions that may complicate the boundary matter and takereal actions to safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas,” headded.
The Chinese government has never acknowledged the so-called northeastIndian state, and claimed to be a part of South Tibet.
China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet and continuouslyobjects to Indian leaders’ visits to Arunachal Pradesh.
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The two countries have so far held 21 rounds of talks to resolve the borderdispute covering 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC).
To a question about the inter-Afghan peace talks likely to be held inBeijing next week, the spokesperson said China supported the broad andinclusive process of Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliationin Afghanistan and the Chinese side supported the inter-Afghan dialogueincluding the Afghan govt and Taliban.
“We would like to help this process and right now, we are in communicationwith our relevant parties.”
