Chinese mouthpiece attacks India ahead of border talks, questions Indo-US relations

Even as India and China are holding Corps Commander-level talks on Saturday at Moldo to end standoff along LAC, Chinese mouthpiece has written a scathing piece on border dispute. In editorial, Chinese mouthpiece has claimed that India has formed an 'illusion of strategic superiority toward China'. It suggests that India should t be 'fooled by US' as Washington is only trying to serve its own strategic interest to maintain pressure on China, and t 'or countries geopolitical interests'.

It went on to declare that China will t give up 'any inch of territory'. It warns that if India misjudges and 'nibbles away at China's territory,' n China will take strong countermeasures. "We believe India kws very well that China will t be at a disadvant in any China-India military operations along border area," it says. As per reports, editorial was published on Friday in Chinese government mouthpiece.

READ | Amid border tensions, Indian & Chinese brigade commanders hold high-level meet in Ladakh

India-China Corps Commander-level talks

At time of publishing article, India and China are holding Corps Commander-level talks. Sources said that Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, Commander of 14 Corps is holding talks with Major General Liu Lin, who is commander of South Xinjiang Military Region of China's People's Liberation Army. Ten or officers from both sides are also present. 

As per sources, both nations have tabled specific proposals to end standoff and a number of skirmishes that have taken place between army of both nations along LAC in past few days. This crucial meeting comes after a breakthrough has t been achieved despite nearly 10 rounds of talks between two sides.

Meanwhile, three days before talks, China appointed Lieutenant General Xu Qiling as new commander for its Western atre Command Ground Force. Western atre Command is a unit of Chinese military that is responsible for guarding  3488 km long Line of Actual Control with India.

READ | Top diplomats from India & China hold virtual meet, stress on peaceful & stable relations

MEA Joint Secretary meeting with Wu Jianghao

On Friday, MEA Joint Secretary (East Asia) Naveen Srivastava held a virtual meeting with Wu Jianghao, Director General of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong also joined video conference. two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations including current developments. Recalling consensus reached by PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, y stressed that peaceful and balanced relations between India and China would be a positive factor for stability in global situation.

READ | Top-level Indo-China talks to be held on June 6 in Moldo, meeting venue accessed

India-China standoff

Chinese military helicopters were spotted close to border between India and China in eastern Ladakh after a clash between soldiers from both sides took place on two occasions. reafter, a fleet of Su-30 fighters of Indian Air Force carried out sorties in area. According to reports, Indian and Chinese Army personnel clashed along rrn bank of Pangong Lake in Ladakh on May 5. Four days later, a face-off between two sides was witnessed near Naku La Pass in Sikkim. Speaking with Republic TV, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Centre would t let India's self-respect come down. He added that diplomatic talks with China were going on. 

READ | China urges citizens to shun Australia as dispute simmers