'Match words with actions': MEA's stinging response to China blaming India for LAC faceoff

On Friday, Ministry of External Affairs hit back at China after it held India responsible for standoff at Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. Addressing a press briefing, MEA official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava made it clear that China had exacerbated situation by trying to unilaterally change status of LAC. He maintained that China had violated bilateral agreements on ensuring peace and tranquility in border areas. In a veiled jibe at neighbouring country, Srivastava urged China to match its verbal commitments to peace with requisite actions. 

MEA official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava remarked, "Our position is very clear and has been articulated several times in past. situation we are seeing in last 6 months has been result of Chinese side which has sought to effect a unilateral change in status along Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. se actions are in violation of bilateral agreements and protocols on ensuring peace and tranquillity along LAC in India-China border areas."

He added, " core issue remains that both sides need to strictly follow various bilateral agreements and protocols in ir entirety including 1993 and 1996 agreement on maintenance of peace and tranquility along LAC in border areas which require that re should t be amassing of troops, each side should strictly abide by and respect LAC and should t take any unilateral action to alter it. We have taken te of Chinese side's statement that it observes strictly agreement between two sides and is committed to resolving border issue and through dialogue and safeguarding border areas. We expect Chinese side will match words with actions."

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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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