In a strong message to China, India has rubbished media reports of claims by that country of having unfurled their flag in the Galwan Valley, where the armed forces of both sides are locked in a standoff.
Responding to media questions related to the Chinese claims as well as images of construction being carried out at the friction points, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Arindam Bagchi termed the news of flag hoisting as factually incorrect.
Adding that Beijing should focus on resolving the issues related to the border crisis which have been going on since 2019 and should desist from such “antics’’.
Mr Bagchi in response to a question related to the construction of the bridges and other structures in Pangong Tso said that the construction is taking place in areas which have been illegally occupied by the Chinese.
India is monitoring the activity on the bridge being constructed by the Chinese side on Pangong lake. This is being constructed in areas which China has occupied illegally for around 60 years.” This illegal occupation by China has never been accepted by India.
And to counter Chinese adventurism, India too has upped its efforts and is building more infrastructures in the area. In fact, in the last seven years, the government has increased the budget significantly for the development roads, bridges, and development of border infrastructure.
