India News | Peace, Tranquillity Along Border Essential for Development Ties with China: India

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) India on Thursday asserted that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are essential for overall development of bilateral relationship with China.

The comments by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came at a media briefing when asked about new Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang's remarks that both sides are willing to ease the situation in context of the border standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Also Read | Indian Army Under the Aegis of @IaSouthern is Launching an Extensive Outreach Programme, … – Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services.

"You are aware of India's long-standing position - that ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the development of our relationship," Bagchi said.

"So too is the observance of bilateral agreements and refraining from unilateral attempts to change the status quo of the boundary," he added.

Also Read | Kraken or XBB.1.5, New COVID-19 Variant Driving Coronavirus Surge: Is It More Dangerous Than Other Variants? Does It Spread More Easily? Know Everything Here.

In an op-ed article in a US-based magazine days before he became the foreign minister, Qin wrote: "As to the border issues between China and India, the status quo is that both sides are willing to ease the situation and jointly protect peace along their borders."

India and China are locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over 31 months. The bilateral relationship came under severe strain following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh in June, 2020.

India has been maintaining that the relationship cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border area.

"I have a lot of faith in our armed forces to defend our territory," Bagchi said when asked about some reports of China allegedly carrying out certain constructions in areas claimed by India.

He said discussions were underway between India and China through military and diplomatic channels.

These are the mechanisms through which our concerns about Chinese activities are conveyed, he said.

Bagchi said both sides are also focusing on getting back to a degree of normalcy and de-escalation and disengagement at the border.

There has been a fresh spike in tensions between India and China after troops from the two sides were engaged in a clash along the LAC at Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament on December 13 that the Chinese troops tried to "unilaterally" change the status quo in the Yangtse area but the Indian Army compelled them to retreat by its firm and resolute response.

To a separate question on the World Health Organization (WHO) holding that China is under-reporting COVID-19 infection numbers, Bagchi only said: "We hope countries will closely coordinate with WHO and share necessary information so that we can come out of Covid faster."

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)