Uttarakhand border incident: China's PLA says troops 'will not cross LAC'

China's People Liberation Army (PLA) on Thursday played down reports of an 'incursion' across the disputed boundary in Uttarakhand, saying its troops would not cross the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC).

PLA Senior Colonel Yang Yujun, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, told a press briefing that China "still needed to verify the authenticity of the report" but added that Chinese troops "always conduct activities on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control".

'NO INCURSION JUST A TRANSGRESSION'

His comments came as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told Parliament on Thursday that "there was no incursion by Chinese troops, just a transgression which has been settled".

"The India-China border is not formally demarcated. There are areas where both sides have differing perceptions of the LAC. Barahoti in Uttarakhand is one such area," he said, adding that "there is a well defined mechanism to settle such transgressions."

Indian and Chinese officials have both sought to play down reports of "incursions", describing them instead as "transgressions" across the LAC that take place in certain sections where there are overlapping claim lines of the undemarcated LAC, as both sides patrol up to their respective claims.

CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES

However, several stand-off incidents have taken place in the western sector in Ladakh and strained relations, prompting both sides in recent months to deepen confidence building measures, including holding for the first time disaster relief and humanitarian joint drills along the LAC, and to also increase the number of border personnel meeting points.

The PLA Senior Colonel said the Chinese troops "always abide by relevant agreements signed between the two countries." The Chinese troops "always conduct activities on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control. We are committed to maintaining peace and stability along the China India border," he added.

Asked about India's moves, reported earlier this month, to deploy T-72 tanks in Ladakh, the PLA Senior Colonel said China had "taken note of the relevant report" but played down the significance of the move, which has been seen by analysts as an attempt by India to narrow the asymmetry in border infrastructure, with China building a vast network of railways, roads and airports in Tibet.

'CHINA AND INDIA ARE PARTNERS'

"I would like to emphasise that China and India are neighbours and partners, not competitors or enemies", said Yang.

"It is the common aspiration of the Chinese and Indian people to maintain peace and stability along the border. We hope the Indian side can work for the same direction as the Chinese side and implement the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries and maintain peace and tranquility along the China-India border", he said.