China claims Galwan Valley, stays silent on its casualties

Asserts that talks through military, diplomatic channels are underway

New Delhi/Beijing, June 17: China on Wednesday claimed that the sovereignty over the Galwan Valley area in Ladakh “always belonged to it” but underlined that Beijing does not wish to see “more clashes,” after the militaries of the two countries were engaged in the biggest confrontation in over five decades.

India’s External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday said the violent confrontation between armies of India and China in eastern Ladakh was the result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo in the region.

The ministry said both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement arrived earlier at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side.

At a briefing at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Spokesman Zhao Lijian said the “sovereignty of the Galwan Valley area has always belonged to China,” echoing a statement of the Chinese military on Tuesday, opening up another dispute.

When asked since Galwan is regarded as settled border and why

China is claiming sovereignty over the area now, Zhao said, “regarding the mater of the Galwan area we are having communication through military and diplomatic channels. Right and wrong of this is very clear. This happened at the Chinese side of the border and China is not to be blamed for it.”

He also refused to comment on reports of 43 casualties on the

Chinese side during the face-off with the Indian Army in the Galwan Valley on Monday night.

“The border troops are dealing with relevant matter,” he said.

When pointed out that India has released the number of casualties and why Beijing was not providing the number for Chinese side, he said, “I have stated that Chinese and Indian border troops are now jointly

dealing with the relevant matter on the ground. I have nothing to add at the moment.”

“On the situation at the China-India border both sides are having close communication with each other to resolve this through diplomatic and military channels, Zhao said. “The over all border situation is stable and controllable,” he told correspondents to a volley of questions.

— H.U. Naqash An army convoy moves along the Srinagar-Leh National highway, in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir, Wednesday. The Srinagar-Leh highway witnessed movement of huge military convoys on Wednesday. The police and other security forces had laid additional makeshift checkpoints on the stretch of the highway between Ganderbal town and Sonamarg resort.