India building border infra root of conflict, says China

India’s decision to develop infrastructure and deploy troops along the border with China are the root causes of tension between the two countries, the Chinese foreign ministry contended on Tuesday, saying that Beijing is against New Delhi building military facilities close to the disputed boundary.

China also reasserted that it did not recognise the Union Territory of Ladakh -- created last year after the reorganisation of the former state of Jammu & Kashmir -- and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

“For some time, the Indian side has been ramping up infrastructure development along the border and stepping up military deployment that is the root cause for the tensions between the two sides,” foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.

“We urge the Indian side to earnestly implement our consensus and refrain from actions that might escalate the situation and take concrete measures to safeguard peace and tranquillity along the border,” Zhao said during on Tuesday.

India’s decision to develop infrastructure and deploy troops along the border with China are the root causes of tension between the two countries, the Chinese foreign ministry contended on Tuesday, saying that Beijing is against New Delhi building military facilities close to the disputed boundary. China also reasserted that it did not recognise the Union Territory of Ladakh -created last year after the reorganisation of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir -- and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

“For some time, the Indian side has been ramping up infrastructure development along the border and stepping up military deployment that is the root cause for the tensions between the two sides,” foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said. “We urge the Indian side to earnestly implement our consensus and refrain from actions that might escalate the situation and take concrete measures to safeguard peace and tranquillity along the border,” Zhao added. Zhao was responding to a question on India building allweather bridges in Ladakh and AP that would give access to the disputed boundary. India’s strengthening of its infrastructure in border areas along the line of actual control comes amid the worst border tension with China in decades in eastern Ladakh, where border troops from the two countries have been locked in a face-off since May.