Politics

China, India agree not to send more troops to border during negotiations

Beijing, Sep 23 (efe-epa).- China and India have agreed not to send more troops to a disputed border area in a new attempt to resolve their differences peacefully and avoid taking any actions that might complicate the situation, the Chinese defense ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Following Commander-level talks at the Moldo, the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Sep. 21, the two sides issued a joint press release in which they pledged to “avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation” and agreed to “refrain from changing the in-place situation unilaterally and taking any actions that may complicate the situation,” Wu Qian said on late Tuesday.

The two countries also agreed to “earnestly implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries” and “strengthen in-place communication and contact,” the spokesperson added.

China and India also agreed to hold a seventh meeting between military commanders from both sides as soon as possible, according to Wu.

On Sep. 11, the two countries agreed to initiate a disengagement process to resolve the crisis between the two sides following three months of tensions and clashes at the border that have left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead and dozens wounded.

The foreign ministers of both countries agreed at the time that the current situation in the border areas was not in the interest of either side. They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions.

However, the armies of the two Asian giants have continued to strengthen their presence at the border, and those talks did not prevent the two sides from flexing their military muscle by sending troops and materials.

On Jun. 15, at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed and dozens more were wounded during a clash in the Galwan valley of Ladakh, marking the worst military confrontation between the two sides in 45 years.

The Chinese side did not report any casualties although the Indian government has claimed that it caused equal or worse damage to the opposite side.

Since then, Chinese and Indian armies have accused each other of occupying contested territories and firing warning shots on the disputed border, called the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a loose demarcation that separates the two countries. EFE-EPA

jco/pd/lds

Related Articles

Back to top button