The Press Trust of India quoted Indian military sources as saying that the Chinese side raised the issue at a Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) on March 15 but the Indian Army rejected it, saying that the area in the upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India and it has regularly been carrying out patrols there.
Never acknowledged the existence of Arunachal Pradesh: China
Tellingly, China said in January last that it had never acknowledged the existence of Arunachal Pradesh. Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, made the statement after a media report stated that Chinese troops intruded into the Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh for about 200 meters close to a village in upper Siang district.
Geng was quoted as saying by PTI: "First of all on the border issue our position is clear and consistent. We never acknowledged the existence of so-called Arunachal Pradesh. For the specific situation you mentioned, I am not aware of it." China claims Arunachal Pradesh is part of South Tibet. The India-China border dispute covered 3,488 km along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
According to the report, the Chinese troops who reportedly crossed over with the construction machinery last month were stopped by Indian soldiers. The Chinese troops reportedly left the construction equipment behind. "I want to mention that between China and India there is a well-developed mechanism for border-related affairs. Through this mechanism, China and India could manage the border affairs. Maintaining peace and stability at the border suits both China and India," Geng was quoted as saying by PTI.
When the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson was asked whether there is another standoff between India and China similar to the one in Dokalam area, he said the "standoff which happened last year has been resolved properly".
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