BEIJING: China on Monday did not deny reports that its troops were present in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK) along the Line of Control (LoC), with the foreign ministry here saying it was not aware of any such deployment.
The foreign ministry’s stand, however, was clear on the reports of an incursion by Chinese troops across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) – it denied that People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers had crossed it.
China’s official media warned India that it cannot afford tense situations along the borders with both Pakistan and China.
“There is no such thing as going beyond the border. We re g ret that the media keeps hyping up the relevant issue ,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Monday.
Asked about the presence of PLA soldiers in PoK, Lu was vague. “I have not heard about the incident mentioned,” he said. In response to a question on whether the presence of PLA troops was connected to work on the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), over which India has conveyed its protest, Lu merely reiterated China’s stand on the Kashmir issue.
“China’s position on the Kashmir issue is consistent. The relevant issue is left over from history between India and Pakistan. We hope the two countries can properly resolve the issue through negotiation and consultations,” Lu said. Lu added, “We hope relevant media will report objectively and truly about the China-India relationship, and do more to improve friendly relations.”