China Says India ‘Illegally’ Set up Ladakh Union Territory, Opposes Building of 44 Key Bridges

12 Oct 2020

After Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 44 key bridges built in areas of strategic importance, China reacted on Tuesday by saying it was strongly opposed to the move and that it did not recognise the Ladakh Union Territory “illegally” set up by India.

In a press conference, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said neither side should take actions that would complicate the situation.

India and China have been engaged in a bitter stand-off since June after 20 Indian soldiers died after clashes with the PLA at the Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

“China does not recognise the so-called Union Territory of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India,” Zhao said, reported the Global Times.

“We are opposed to infrastructure construction for the purpose of military surveillance in disputed border areas,” he added.

He said according to the recent consensus reached between the two sides, neither China nor India should take any action in the border areas that would “complicate the dispute” to “not undermine the efforts made by both nations to de-escalate the situation”.

The Chinese spokesperson also accused India of being the “root cause” of tensions along the border. This, he said, was because “India has continued to enhance infrastructure construction and troop deployment in the disputed areas over a period of time”.

He urged India to take “practical actions” for peace and tranquility in the border areas.

Courtesy: Opera News/ News18