Defence Ministers of India and China held a meeting for over 2 hours on Friday to discuss the continuing standoff between the two countries along the border in Ladakh. It was the first highest-level face-to-face level talk between the two sides since the border tension flared up in May. The meeting was held in Moscow along the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, an eight-nation bloc of which both countries are members.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh strongly conveyed to his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe that China’s attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo were in violation of the bilateral agreements. He asserted that while the Indian troops have always taken responsible approach there should be no doubt about their determination to protect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Singh also said that the Chinese side should work with Indian side for complete disengagement and de-escalation in the border areas as peace is essential for delveopment of bilateral ties. Underlining the importance of handling the situation responsibly and not taking any further action to complicate matters, Rajnath Singh said that the two sides should continue their discussions to ensure restoration of peace.
Hours after the meeting, China released a statement on Saturday saying that the responsibility for the current border tension between the two countries lies with India. The statement further said that China can’t lose even an inch of its territory and is capable of safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. China called on India earnestly implement the consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and PM Modi and resolve the issue through dialogue.
The tensions between the two sides flared up again after the Indian Army on August 31 said they had foiled a ‘provocative bid’ by the Chinese troops along the south bank of Pangong Lake.