The Hindu : China sticks to its stand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003

International

International - India & World

China sticks to its stand

Beijing Aug. 5. China today stuck to its charge that the Indian military ``intruded'' into its territory last month and said it had proposed border talks with India.

``Not long ago, Indian military personnel crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to the Chinese side,'' the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Kong Quan, said.

Mr. Quan said this when asked to comment on a report that India had rejected China's explanation on its intrusion into Arunachal Pradesh and sent a ``strong demarche'' to Beijing.

Asked to confirm the report, Mr. Quan said, ``China has stated its position through diplomatic channels.''

On July 25, China had reacted sharply to another report in the Indian media that ``Chinese troops intruded into the Indian side of the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh and detained and disarmed some Indian security personnel'' and that this occurred during the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to China. Responding to the report, China said it had never recognised the ``so-called Arunachal Pradesh'' mentioned in the media report.

Mr. Quan said that China had invited India to the 14th round of the Experts Group (EG) meeting on the boundary issue.

``China has invited India to send its delegation to China for the 14th meeting of diplomatic military experts on border issues,'' he said when asked about the possibility of the next round of the EG. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International