No data on missing Indian jet, China says

China yesterday said it had “no information” about a missing Indian Air Force Sukhoi fighter jet and warned India not to disturb peace in the border area while searching for the aircraft that disappeared a day ago.

“As for the situation you mentioned, I have no relevant information to offer at the moment,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a briefing here, to a question on the missing Indian jet and if China would come forward to help in the search.

“First of all, on the eastern section of the China-India border, our position is consistent and clear. We have been following the situation in South Tibet very closely. We hope India can stick to arrangements between two sides and avoid disturbing peace and stability in border areas,” Lu said curtly.

Two pilots on board

Beijing claims parts of Arunachal Pradesh in India’s northeast as South Tibet.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi-30 fighter jet with two pilots on board went missing near the India-China border in Assam on Tuesday morning. A search was on to locate the jet.

The Sukhoi took off from the IAF Tezpur airbase, located about 172km from the Indo-China border.