India slams China's 'provocative military manoeuvres' amid diplomatic talks

In a virtual media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said: "As you are aware, 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."

"It would also be recalled that earlier the two Foreign Ministers and the two Special Representatives had agreed that the situation should be handled in a responsible manner and either side should not take any provocative action or escalate matters and ensure peace and tranquility as per bilateral agreements and protocol."

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, Srivastava said.

He informed that the India Army responded strongly and took defensive measures along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

"As stated yesterday by Indian Army, the Indian side responded to these provocative actions and took appropriate defensive measures along the LAC in order to safeguard our interests and defend the territorial integrity," said Srivastava.

"Furthermore, yesterday on 31st August, 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."
 

He 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 tranquility on the border.

Such actions are also in complete disregard to the understandings reached between the two Foreign Ministers as also the Special Representatives.

"We have taken up the matter of recent provocative and aggressive actions with Chinese side through both diplomatic and military channels and have urged them to discipline and control their frontline troops from undertaking such provocative actions," Srivastava said.
 

"The Indian side is firmly committed to resolve all outstanding issues along the LAC in the Western Sector through peaceful dialogue. In this context, we expect the Chinese side to sincerely abide by the understanding reached earlier and earnestly work with the India to resolve the situation and to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas," he added.

In a fresh attempt to change the status-quo at the Line of Actual Control, the Chinese troops have carried out provocative military movements at Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh to only get thwarted by India, the country's Defence Ministry said on Monday.

This is the first attempt by China to trespass at the LAC since the deadly border clash took place between soldiers of the two Asian giants at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Jun 15 night.

In the first deadly clash in a time span of over 40 years, at least 20 Indian personnel were martyred.