LAC row: EAM Jaishankar says 'India being tested', maintains 'China changed status-quo'

Addressing 93rd Annual Convention of FICCI, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday, said that  'Events of this year have been very disturbing', referring to ongoing border face-off along Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Stating that issue cropped up because China has t abided by agreements, he reiterated that India has been respecting and observing Line of Actual Control by t bringing forces to LAC. He added that while India 'was being tested', we will meet that national security challenge.

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EAM: 'India was being tested'

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China pins blame on India

At an international think tank interaction on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that Galwan clashes, in which 21 Indian soldiers were martyred, was a big turning point for "national sentiment". Citing that China had mobilised thousands of soldiers at LAC in Ladakh, he added that it was natural for bilateral relationship to get disturbed. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday blamed India for present impasse at border.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying claimed, “ merits of situation at border area are very clear and responsibility totally lies with Indian side. China has been strictly observing agreements signed between two sides and committed to resolving border issue through dialogue and we are committed to safeguarding regional peace and tranquillity at border areas". 

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LAC talks

After eight rounds of military talks and five rounds of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) talks, next talks too will include an MEA diplomat - Naveen Srivastava along with XIV Corps Commander headed by Lt General P G K Men. In previous round of talks, two sides which met after 50 days, had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on stabilizing situation along LAC. y agreed to stop sending more troops to frontline and refraining from unilaterally changing situation on ground.

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Moreover, two countries' foreign ministers have reached to a five-point consensus on continuing dialogue and quickly diseng, while houring all existing agreements and protocol on China-India boundary affairs. Over time, Chinese People's Liberation Army has retreated from Finger 4 area and Patrol point 14 along LAC, while India pre-empted PLA activity on Sourn Bank of Pangong Tso Lake capturing positions of 'strategic importance' in Fingers area.  20 jawans were martyred on June 5-6 amid a violent face-off between Indo-China troops at LAC's Galwan Valley.