BEIJING/ NEW DELHI: Following reports of renewed tension between Indian and Chinese troops in a remote Himalayan area, India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that peace and tranquility along the disputed border are essential for improving bilateral relations.
According to Reuters, this statement marks the second time in less than a week that the Indian foreign ministry has addressed the issue, as both nations attempt to mend ties strained by deadly 2020 border clashes.
During a regular weekly briefing on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India has consistently communicated to Chinese authorities that matters concerning the border regions are of utmost seriousness, noting that the border situation directly impacts the broader state of bilateral ties.
The statement came in response to inquiries regarding alleged fresh friction between Indian and Chinese forces.
Neither China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor its Ministry of Defense has yet commented on the matter.
Following the briefing, news reports indicated that in late July, Indian and Chinese patrolling parties confronted each other near Taksing, a remote border village in the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The reports claimed the incident occurred roughly two and a half kilometers inside Indian-controlled territory in the eastern Himalayas before the Chinese personnel withdrew.
However, reports further claimed that Chinese personnel returned to the area in early August and pitched two tents.
The disputed India-China border spans approximately 3,488 kilometers. While face-to-face encounters between patrolling troops are not unusual, deep incursions are less common.
Relations between New Delhi and Beijing deteriorated sharply following a 2020 western Himalayan clash that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers, prompting both countries to deploy tens of thousands of troops and heavy military hardware along the frontier.
