Blaming China's actions of amassing an oversized number of troops near the border and attempting to unilaterally alter the established order along the road of Actual Control (LAC) last year for the continuing military standoff in eastern Ladakh, India has asserted that these acts were in violation of Sino-India bilateral agreements.
"It is well recognised that it's been the Chinese actions over the last year, including amassing of an oversized number of troops near border areas within the western sector and trying to unilaterally alter the establishment along the LAC, which have seriously disturbed peace and tranquillity within the border areas," external affairs ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.
India's strong comments on the border row came each day after China said its military deployment within the region could be a normal defence arrangement aimed toward "preventing and responding" to "encroachment and threat" on Chinese territory by "relevant country".
"These acts are in violation of our bilateral agreements, including the 1993 and 1996 agreements that mandate that the 2 sides shall strictly respect and observe the road of Actual Control which two sides will keep their military forces within the areas along the LAC to a minimum level," Bagchi said.
Zhao made these comments when asked about External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's recent remarks that the difficulty regarding the border row is whether or not Beijing would live up to its written commitments about not deploying an oversized armed force along the frontier.
Asked when the subsequent round of diplomatic talks under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) will occur, Bagchi said he doesn't have an update on that.
India and China were locked in a very military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year. However, the 2 sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.
The two sides are now engaged in talks to increase the disengagement process to the remaining friction points. India has been particularly pressing for disengagement of troops in Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.
According to military officials, either side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the road of Actual Control within the sensitive sector.
There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops within the remaining friction points because the Chinese side didn't show flexibility in their approach thereon at the 11th round of military talks.
Last month, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said that there is no de-escalation without complete disengagement in any respect friction points in eastern Ladakh which the Indian Army is ready for all contingencies within the region.
Gen Naravane also said that India is managing China in a very "firm" and "non-escalatory" manner to confirm the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh, which it absolutely was even receptive initiating confidence-building measures.
