NEW DELHI: India’s engagement with China is “complex” and Chinese attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh starting from April-May 2020 seriously disturbed the peace and tranquillity in border areas, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a report on Monday.
It said these attempts were invariably met with an “appropriate response” from the Indian armed forces.
“India’s engagement with China is complex. The two sides have agreed that pending the final settlement of the boundary question, maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas is an essential basis for the overall development of the bilateral relationship,” the MEA’s annual report for 2022 said.
“However, starting from April-May 2020, the Chinese side undertook several attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC in the western sector, which seriously disturbed the peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the western sector and impacted the development of the relationship,” it said.
The government refers to eastern Ladakh as the western sector. The MEA said both sides have agreed to resolve the issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh through peaceful dialogue and that discussions have continued with the Chinese side to achieve complete disengagement from all friction points and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas at an early date.