DEFENCE MINISTER MANOHAR PARRIKAR HAD SAID DEMARCATING THE LAC COULD GO A LONG WAY IN REDUCING TENSION ALONG BORDER
BEIJING: China on Tuesday emphasised the importance of dialogue to resolve the longstanding border dispute with India but gave enough indications that it is not up for mapping or demarcating the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Beijing’s statement came a day before the two sides resume talks on the border issue in the Chinese capital after a gap of a year.
Visiting defence minister Manohar Parrikar raised the issue of demarcating the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during meetings in Beijing on Monday, saying it could go a long way in reducing tension along the border.
On Tuesday, China came as close to a public response to Parrikar’s remarks as possible, and it came hours before national security adviser AK Doval was to arrive in Beijing for the 19th round of talks between ‘Special Representatives’ on the boundary issue.
As it turns out, China is not ready to demarcate the border.
“With regard to Line of Actual Control (LAC), we can have further discussions on that. As for any breakthrough during the 19th session (of talks), I am not sure but I believe both sides have the willingness to continue with friendly discussions on that,” foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing.
Hua said after Parrikar’s meetings with Chinese officials and talks on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), it was seen the “two militaries have the common aspiration of enhancing military-to-military exchanges so as to build up mutual trust”.