China today parried questions on India’s assertion that issues related to complete disengagement and situation at LAC cannot be swept under the carpet and should not be treated as a matter of perspective.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday at his media briefing in Beijing that it was committed to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as it urged India to put the boundary issue at an “appropriate position” and meet it “halfway” for the long-term development of the bilateral ties.
In a straight talk, India’s Ambassador to China Vikram Misri in his recent address to the India-China dialogue forum said that the tendency to characterize the issues related to complete disengagement as a matter of perspective is inadvisable. He also questioned and reminded China of the significance of the consensus reached between leaders of the two countries to maintain peace along the LAC. He further said that complete disengagement of troops in Eastern Ladakh is necessary to rebuild bilateral ties strained by the “serious incidents” happened last year at LAC.
Without giving any reason for delay in complete disengagement, Wang said that both sides held in-depth and candid talks on resolving the disengagement from the remaining areas of Eastern Ladakh after the withdrawal from Pangong Tso lake area. Top Commanders of the two militaries held the 11th round of talks on April 9 to disengage the troops from Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang areas in Eastern Ladakh but without any tangible outcome.
In his address, Mr. Misri said the “sustainable solution” to the “present difficulties” in the Sino-India relations must be based on mutual sensitivity and respect and paves the way for maximizing our mutual interests. He also noted the importance of the two sides having maintained a sustained diplomatic and military dialogue in attempting to resolve issues which have helped in achieving substantial disengagement of the two forces.
