China-India Border Dispute Round 2... Bilateral Relations Becoming Harder to Restore

Both Sides Accuse Each Other of Military Provocations
China Urges India to Wake Up from Illusions About US Support

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China and India are once again confronting each other in the border dispute area, raising concerns about accidental clashes.

After the Indian military authorities announced last weekend that the Chinese military carried out provocative military actions, the Chinese government publicly claimed that the Indian military crossed the line first, with both sides presenting conflicting assertions.

China's state-run Global Times claimed in an editorial on the 1st that the Indian military conducted military provocations around Pangong Lake in the northern Ladakh region of India.

The newspaper stated that the southern shore of Pangong Lake is under Chinese control and reiterated that the Indian government intends to expand the dispute rather than maintain stability in the border area.

It particularly asserted that the Indian government, in alliance with the United States, aims to escalate the dispute area. It warned against harboring illusions about U.S. support.

The newspaper also said that the Indian government is deliberately escalating conflicts with China to cover up domestic issues such as the difficult economic situation and the world's highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The Indian Ministry of Defense announced the previous day, "The Chinese military violated agreements and carried out provocative military actions," adding, "The Indian military blocked attempts by the Chinese military to unilaterally change the ground situation."

The Ministry of Defense further stated, "The Indian military is committed to maintaining peace through dialogue," and "Brigade-level talks between the two countries' militaries are underway to resolve this issue."

In response, Zhao Lijian (趙立堅), spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "The Chinese military strictly adheres to the Line of Actual Control and has never crossed this line."

Since the 1962 border war, China and India have established a Line of Actual Control stretching 3,379 km. Due to the geographical characteristics of the area, including rivers and lakes, the boundary line is ambiguous, and military clashes between the two countries have been continuous.

Meanwhile, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, stated on his Weibo (Chinese Twitter), "The border friction between China and India may be prolonged," and insisted, "Sufficient military preparations must be made in the border area."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.