MP: New Delhi, Oct 25 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday
played down frequent incursions carried out by Chinese troops along
the border, particularly in the Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir and
Arunachal Pradesh in the north-eastern part of the country, terming it
"differences in perception".
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Naval Commanders' Conference here,
Antony said, "Occasionally there are some aberrations. China perceives
certain areas as theirs' and according to our perception it is ours.
So, it sometimes happens as per their perception they will visit these
areas and according to our perception, our team also visits our
areas."
"So, these kinds of incursions take place on both sides. I don't think
there is anything serious,' he added.
Antony's remark follows recent assessment by the Indo-Tibetan Border
Police (ITBP), whose Director General VK Joshi admitted that in the
past one year Chinese troops carried out 141 border incursions, which
makes it one border incursion by Beijing every three days.
Though these incursions never reached a 'flashpoint', Joshi said that
diplomatic channels are now handling the issue.
The special representatives talks between India and China led by
National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Chinese Vice-Foreign
Minister Dai Bingguo to resolve the contentious border issue has not
moved ahead in spite of several rounds of talks.
Earlier, a parliamentarian hailing from Arunachal Pradesh had claimed
that Chinese had incurred into Indian territory in the Tawang region.
Though Indian Foreign Ministry and the Army quickly refuted this, it
failed to stop the onset of a new chill in the diplomatic relations
between two countries.
A joint army exercise has also failed to take off after a last minute
cancellation of Chinese official's visit to New Delhi, where the two
sides were expected to finalise the schedule. The exercise now remains
indefinitely postponed.
Chinese attitude to the 123-agreement between India and the US that
would help New Delhi to get nuclear fuel supplies for its civilian
nuclear plants has further dampened the relationship between two Asian
giants, according to strategic analysts. (ANI)
