Beijing China on Wednesday, once again, claimed its sovereignty over the Galwan valley in India’s northern Ladakh region, saying its troops have been patrolling there from many years.
“China has sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region and the Chinese border troops have been patrolling and on duty in this region for many years”, China Defence Ministry Spokesperson Colonel Wu Qian said at regular press conference here.
The comments came just a day after both rival neighbours greed to disengage from all friction points in Eastern Ladakh, including Galwan Valley.
Besides Galwan valley, the Indian and Chinese forces have agreed to disengage in the areas of Hot Spring and Pangong Tso.
Wu alleged that since April this year, the Indian border troops have begun to unilaterally built facilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley region, regarding which China has lodged representations and oppositions many times.
On the other hand, India has several times debunked the Chinese claims of Galwan valley and said that the position with regard to the area has been historically clear.
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“Attempts by the Chinese side to now advance exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to Line of Actual Control (LAC) there are not acceptable. They are not in accordance with China’s own position in the past,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said.
Meanwhile, China again claimed that India was responsible for the recent Galwan Valley clash and asked New Delhi to punish those allegedly responsible for the incident.
Troops from both sides got involved in a deadly confrontation, resulting in 20 casualties from the Indian side and ‘unknown number’ of fatalities for China.
The Defence spokesperson said that after the clash, China and India have stayed in close communications through military and diplomatic channels.
“Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar reached an agreement over a phone conservation to handle the Galwan Valley clash justly and fairly and cool down the situation on the ground. The second Corps Commander-level meeting was held on June 22 where the two sides exchanged views on the management and control of border tensions and the maintenance of peace and stability in the border areas”, the Chinese Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Regarding to the future border situation, Wu expressed that China and India are important neighbors to each other. Maintaining a peaceful and tranquil border region is in the common interests of both sides and requires common efforts as well.
“China hopes that India will work with China, follow faithfully the important consensus reached between the two leaders, abide by the agreements reached between the two governments, and properly handle relevant issues through dialogues and negotiations on various levels. The two sides should make great efforts to jointly ease current border tensions and uphold peace and stability in these areas”, Wu added.
(United News of India)