BEIJING: China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang has said that it had never acknowledged the existence of Arunachal Pradesh as it kept mum over a media report that its troops intruded into the Indian side of the border, the Indian media reported on Wednesday.
The response came after a media report said that Chinese troops intruded into Arunachal Pradesh for about 200m close to a village in Upper Siang district. “First of all, our position is clear and consistent on the border issue. We never acknowledged the existence of so-called Arunachal Pradesh,” Geng told a media briefing.
“For the specific situation you mentioned, I am not aware of it.” China claims Arunachal Pradesh is part of South Tibet. The India-China border dispute covered 3,488km along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). According to the report, the Chinese troops reportedly crossed over with the construction machinery in December 2017.
“I want to mention that between China and India there is a well-developed mechanism for border-related affairs. Through this mechanism, both the countries could manage the border affairs. Maintaining peace and stability at the border suits both China and India,” the spokesman said.
Asked whether there is another standoff between India and China similar to the one in Dokalam area, Geng said the standoff which happened last year has been resolved properly. “Both the sides made clear that the two countries will work together for the continuous improvement of China-India ties. The two sides will jointly maintain peace stability of the border areas,” Geng said on the outcome of the latest border talks.
