The meeting between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the recent BRICS National Security Advisers’ gathering offered another reminder that despite decades of dialogue, the India-China boundary dispute remains unresolved.
China on Thursday hit out at a Pentagon report saying ''it sows discord between China and other countries, including India'' adding that Beijing handles its relations with New Delhi from a long-term perspective.
The Siliguri Corridor, which runs through West Bengal and borders Bangladesh, Nepal, China’s Chumbi Valley in Tibet, and the Kingdom of Bhutan, is just 17 kilometres wide at its narrowest point.
India and China held the 23rd round of Corps Commander-level talks at the Chushul–Moldo border meeting point on October 25, with both sides describing the discussions as cordial and focused on maintaining stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to arrive in China’s Beijing on Sunday evening, his first trip to the neighbouring country in five years.
The face-off which lasted for a few hours took place last week, defence sources said, adding that the troops disengaged after the talks between the two local commanders as per existing protocols.
At a media briefing here, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it was China's provocative behaviour and unilateral attempts by it to alter status quo in contravention of all bilateral agreements that resulted in serious disturbance of peace and tranquility along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.
"...required measures including infrastructure development such as the construction of roads, tunnels and strategic railway lines are being undertaken to safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of India"
He interacted extensively with the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and General Reserve Engineer Force personnel deployed in the remote areas.
Naravane also said that India is keeping an eye on the developments on the Chinese side.
