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Chinese attempts to gain new ground |
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Chinese soldiers are making incursions into new stretches in the north-east to assert their claim over several border areas. At least 265 such incidents have been reported since January 2005, a top parliamentary official said.
“They are exploring new stretches in the north-east. Their penetration is five to six kilometres,” Vineet Kumar Joshi, Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police told the New Delhi-based English daily, Hindustan Times.
“They leave the vehicles at the border and walk in small groups, stay there for some hours and leave tell-tale signs like cigarette packets and packed food tins,” Joshi said.
The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi rejected the allegation. “Currently, Indo-China border area enjoys a peaceful and tranquil situation. The story you have heard is totally groundless,”
it said in a written response to questions from the news daily.
At the heart of rival assertions is the four-decade old border dispute. Since the India-China war in 1962, what India maps show as national territory is not entirely recognised as such by the Chinese Government.
The border issue is expected to be discussed in November when Chinese President Hu Jintao may visit India.
Apart from the parts of Jammu and Kashmir that are under Chiense3 control, there are vast disputed areas in the north and north east - mainly in Arunachal Pradesh - where the impossible terrain is sparsely patrolled by India, with just a few border posts.
The incursions allegedly occur mainly at Track Junction in the Karakoram region and in Ladakh, including in the Pangong Lake - a 100 km. narrow brackish water expanse, Joshi said 33 kilometres of the lake lie in Indian territory and the rest are controlled by the Chinese, who he said make regular intrusions on motorboats.
“They continue the incursions to make a point .... to establish that this is not yet a settled issue, “ Joshi said.
India and China are currently holding talks to resolve their border dispute. Eight rounds have been held so far, the last one in June in China.
“The boundary question between China and India is a problem left from history,” the Chinese statement said. “Before the final settlement, both sides should work together to keep peace and tranquility of the border areas.”
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