China warns India over border road
BEIJING: India should not “complicate the situation” along the disputed border, China said Wednesday, reacting sharply to reports of New Delhi’s plans to build a road along the Mcmahon Line in Arunachal Pradesh.
Media reports Tuesday had quoted Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju saying India planned to construct a 2,000km road along the international boundary, from Mago-thingbu in Tawang to Vijaynagar in Arunachal.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said the government needed to verify the details, but added, “There is a dispute about the east(ern) part of the China-india border. Before a final settlement, we hope India won’t take any action that may further complicate the situation. We should jointly safeguard the peace and tranquility of the border area and create favourable conditions for a final settlement.” China claims Arunachal — which it calls South Tibet — as its territory.
Hong also said China was “highly attentive to the situation” on the India-pakistan border, and advised the two countries to exercise restraint and cease fire.
In Delhi, a home ministry official countered China’s displeasure over its efforts at infrastructure improvement, saying, “China has already spread their road and rail network near the border. What we make on our territory should not be China’s concern.” The unnamed official, quoted by Reuters, added that the road project was waiting for cabinet approval.
In September, Chinese
President Xi Jinping’s visit to India was overshadowed by a troop standoff in Ladakh after PLA soldiers allegedly intruded into the Indian aide.
On the recent exchange of fire between India and Pakistan, Hong said, “They should make joint efforts for South Asia’s peace, stability and development.”
China considers Pakistan an “all weather friend” and has pumped in huge amounts of money to build its military and civil infrastructure.