‘Disengagement along LAC still incomplete’: India rebuts China
5th round of talks between two sides likely later this week
India on Thursday countered China’s claim that frontline forces of the two countries have “completed” disengagement at most locations at the LAC in the Ladakh sector, saying that though some progress has been made, military disengagement has not yet been completed.
India’s statement followed Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong’s claim earlier on Thursday that the troops of the two countries have “disengaged in most localities” and that China is not a strategic threat to India.
“Border troops have disengaged in most localities, situation on ground is de-escalating and temperature
Some progress has been made, but the disengagement process has as yet not been completed... We expect that Chinese side will sincerely work with us for complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace... — Anurag Srivastava, MEA spokesperson
is coming down. China is committed to peaceful development and is not a strategic threat to India,” Mr Sun said while delivering a virtual address organised by a thinktank in New Delhi.
Contradicting Chinese claims, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “Some progress has been made, but the disengagement process has as yet not been completed. The senior commanders of the two sides will be meeting in the near future to work out steps in this regard. We expect that Chinese side will sincerely work with us for complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas at the earliest.”
The remarks from both sides came ahead of the fifth round of talks, likely later this week, between Corps Commanders of the two armies. In his address, the Chinese envoy compared IndiaChina ties to “exquisitely crafted-glass” that should not be broken by “recklessness within seconds”.
In what is also being seen as a warning against action by India on Chinese companies, the Chinese envoy also said that both economies are “highly complementary, interwoven and interdependent”, adding that “forced decoupling is against the trend and will lead to a lose-lose outcome” for both sides.
The Chinese ambassador also blamed the “unfortunate” deadly Galwan Valley clash in mid-June on Indian troops, claiming they had attacked Chinese troops first, but added that neither side wants to see a repeat of such an incident.