Rajnath meets Chinese Defence Minister; categorically conveys India's position on recent developments

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 5

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that “there should be no doubt about our determination to protect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

The People’s of Liberation Army (PLA) of China was attempting to unilaterally alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Rajnath Singh said at a meeting with General Wei Fenghe, State Councillor and Defence Minister of China, at Moscow.

The meeting ended at 11:50 pm Indian time on Friday. The two delegations of India and China had met at the invite of China on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.

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A statement released by the Indian Defence Ministry on Saturday said: “The two sides should resolve the ongoing situation and the outstanding issues in the border areas peacefully through dialogue.”

The Chinese Defence Minister conveyed that the Chinese side, too, desired to resolve the issues peacefully.

The two Ministers had frank and in-depth discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as on the India-China relations.

“The two sides should focus on the overall situation of India-China relations and work together to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible and maintain peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas,” a statement released by the Defence Ministry said.

The Chinese Defence Minister suggested that both sides should maintain communication at all levels, including between the two Ministers.

Earlier, the Indian delegation laid emphasis on the actions of the Chinese troops, including amassing of a large number of troops, their aggressive behaviour and attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo were in violation of the bilateral agreements and not in keeping with the understandings reached between the special representatives of the two sides.

India’s position on the developments along the LAC, including in the Galwan valley, was conveyed and the aggression shown by the PLA was highlighted. The two sides have been locked in deadly standoff since May.

General Wei said both sides should scrupulously implement the consensus reached between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping.

“Both countries should continue to solve the issues through dialogue and consultation, strictly follow the various bilateral agreements, strengthen the regulation of frontline troops and not undertake any provocative actions that might escalate the situation,” General Wei added.

Maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas was essential for further development of our bilateral relations and the two sides should not allow differences to become disputes, the Indian statement read.

Rajnath Singh asked his counterpart to work with the Indian side for a complete disengagement at the earliest from all friction areas, including Pangong Tso. He also asked for “de-escalation in border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols on the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas, strictly respect and observe the LAC and should not make attempts to unilaterally change status quo”.