We didn`t provoke, says China

Sticking to its stand that Chinese troops have not caused any "provocation" by violating the LAC in Ladakh, China on Thursday said the incident will not affect bilateral ties.

Beijing: Sticking to its stand that Chinese troops have not caused any "provocation" by violating the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, China on Thursday said the incident will not affect bilateral ties or disrupt peace at the borders as both sides are trying to resolve it in a friendly manner.

"I do not agree with your allegation that it is the Chinese side that has caused the provocation between the border troops" Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying replying to questions about the intrusion of Chinese troops at the Depsang Valley in Ladakh. "China`s troops have never crossed the (LAC) line. China and India are neighbours and the boundary is not demarcated yet. "It is inevitable for problems to prop up in border areas. When there is a problem it should be resolved through friendly consultations though existing mechanisms and channels", she said. "We believe this incident can also be handled and will not affect the peace and stability of the border areas as well as the normal development of China and India relations", she said. Urging the media to be patient, she said, "We also believe that the two sides continue to solve the issue in a friendly manner and we will not let the issue affect border peace and security and normal development of China-India relations". "We hope relevant media can keep patience and create favourable conditions for the two countries to solve this issue through friendly consultations", she said. The spokesperson said the situation on the Sino-Indian border is peaceful and stable. "Just want to tell you that the current situation in the border area is peaceful and stable. Both China and India have the willingness to solve the dispute through peaceful negotiations and consultations. "In the past three days I have repeatedly stressed China`s point and now I would like to reiterate that Chinese troops have always acted in strict compliance to relevant treaty and protocol between the two countries regarding the protection of security of the areas around the LAC", she said. China is committed to peace and security of the border areas as well as the negotiated settlement of the boundary issue left over from history, she said. Asked about reports that the Chinese troops were insisting on Indian army to remove certain fortifications in that area, she said "since I am not in the frontier, so I do not know the latest development of the situation...Both China and India have the willingness to solve the dispute through peaceful negotiations and consultations". She acknowledged that the two countries are holding talks through existing mechanisms. "The two countries had set up the consultation mechanism last year and have maintained simultaneous communication over relevant issues", she said. PTI