India Again Rejects China’s Claim On Galwan Valley, Talks to be Held On Friday

New Delhi : As India and China are expected to hold another round of diplomatic talks on Friday to work out modalities aimed at reducing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India has once again rejected China’s claim on the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Shrivastava said that India is confident of resolving differences through dialogue and understands the need to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. At the same time India is fully committed to ensuring its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Srivastava told the online press conference that LAC should be strictly adhered to and respected, as it is the basis of peace and stability in the border areas. He said that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last Sunday, made him clearly aware of India’s stance on the recent developments on LAC including Galwan Valley. Special representatives for the border talks Doval and Wang had a telephonic conversation, after which the forces of the two countries retreated forces from the confrontation points in eastern Ladakh.

Srivastava said, “The NSA emphasized that Indian forces have always taken a very responsible approach in the matter of border management and also, our forces are extremely committed to ensuring sovereignty and security of the country.”
Meanwhile, officials aware of the development said that the two sides will hold another online meeting on Friday on the border dispute as per the framework of working mechanism to discuss and coordinate on Indo-China border matters. Srivastava reiterated that China’s recent claims on the Galwan Valley are “exaggerated and baseless” and that LAC should be strictly adhered to and respected, as it is the basis for peace and stability in the border areas.

Srivastava said, “We are confident of resolving differences through dialogue and understand the need to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.” With this, we are fully committed to ensuring our sovereignty and territorial integrity. ”

There has been a situation of deadlock between the forces of India and China at several places in eastern Ladakh for the last about eight weeks. The situation was further worsened when 20 soldiers of India were killed in a violent clash between soldiers of the two countries in the Galwan Valley on 15 June. Srivastava said that military and diplomatic officials of both sides would continue to hold meetings to further the process of retreating the forces as agreed between special representatives.