Beijing: China on Thursday responded cautiously to the transgression by its troops in Uttarakhand, saying it needs to verify the “authenticity of the report” about incursion and asserted that PLA soldiers have always abided by agreements to maintain peace and stability along the border.
“We still need to verify the authenticity of the report you mentioned,” Chinese Defence Spokesman Senior Colonel Yang Yujun told a media briefing here today when asked about incursion by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops in Uttarakhand. “I would like to emphasis here that Chinese border defence troops always abided by relevant agreements signed between the two countries,” he said.
The Chinese troops “always conducted activities on the Chinese side of Line of Actual Control. We are committed to maintaining peace and stability along the China-India border,” Yang said. Chinese troops transgressed the border on land and by air in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand earlier this month when its men stationed themselves in a dimilitarised zone and its helicopters flew in the Indian air space for over five minutes.
The incident took place on July 19, in Barahoti area, prompting the security establishment to review the security along the 350 kilometres border with Tibet in this area. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has termed the development as “something to worry about”.
