China acted again as peace talks were on
Govt says PLA troops engage in provocative action even during military-commander talks to defuse row
NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday accused Chinese troops of resorting to “provocative action” even as military commanders were holding talks on Monday to ease fresh tensions near Pangong Lake, underscoring the deep mistrust dogging the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The latest development follows the two sides trading charges of trespassing the LAC on the southern bank of Pangong Lake since the weekend, complicating the de-escalation process that has stalled at key friction points, including Depsang and Gogra.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that “even as the ground commanders of the two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation” that arose from the face-off on the southern bank of Pangong Lake, “Chinese troops again engaged in provocative action”.
Without elaborating on the provocative action, he added: “Due to the timely defensive action, the Indian side was able to prevent these attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo [along the LAC].”
Srivastava reiterated India’s assertion that Chinese troops violated the understanding reached by the two sides in diplomatic and military talks on resolving the standoff when they engaged in “provocative military manoeuvres” during August 29-30 in an “attempt to change the status quo” on the southern bank of Pangong Lake.
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,” he said.
Statements issued by both India and China also make it clear that there was a string of incidents between August 29 and 31 — the Indian side talked about the PLA carrying out “provocative military movements to change the status quo” during August 29-30, while China’s western theatre command claimed the Indian side had “broken the consensus” on August 31.
The Indian Army has occupied key heights on the lake’s southern bank to prevent the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from grabbing territory on the Indian side of the LAC during a stealthy midnight manoeuvre on August 29, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity.
The PLA’s fresh provocative action on Monday was targeted at the heights held by Indian troops, the people added.
Indian troops are holding a series of positions near Black Top, a hill feature, and on Rezang and Reqin passes, which are on the Indian side of the LAC and allow the army to dominate the area and keep an eye on Chinese military activity.