New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) on Thursday said that pre-mediated and planned action was done by China and it unilaterally attempted to alter status quo. It said that our activities were within Indian side of Line of Actual Control (LAC).
MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava, while addressing the media on India-China skirmish in Galwan valley, said that on the night of 15th June a violent faceoff happened when the Chinese side unilaterally tried to change the status quo there, they took premeditated and planned action that was responsible for the resulting violence and casualties.
He also said that no Indian soldiers were missing since the Galwan Valley clash on Monday evening.
"Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the Chinese side to also confine its activities to its side of the LAC," Srivastava said.
He said the two sides are in regular touch through their respective embassies and foreign offices besides maintaining contacts at the ground level.
"Meetings of other established diplomatic mechanisms such as Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs (WMCC) are under discussion," Srivastava said.
"While we remain firmly convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquility in the borders areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue, at the same time, as the prime minister stated yesterday, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.
READ: India-China faceoff LIVE: No Indian soldier missing in action, says Indian Army
He added, "While we remain convinced of the need for maintenance of peace & tranquillity on border areas & resolution of differences through dialogue, at the same time as PM said yesterday, we are strongly committed to ensuring India's sovereignty & territorial integrity.
"India confirms participation in RIC (Russia-India-China) foreign ministers meeting on June 23", MEA added.
The Galwan Valley was the site of the violent clash between the two militaries on Monday evening in which a Colonel and 19 other Indian Army personnel were killed.
It was the biggest confrontation along the LAC between the two forces after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La in 1967 when India lost around 80 soldiers and China lost over 300 PLA personnel.
In a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar too talked about the need for implementation of the decisions taken at the June 6 meeting.
Replying to a separate question, the MEA spokesperson said the external affairs minister will participate in the Russia-India-China (RIC) foreign ministers meeting on June 23.
(With input from agencies)
