On Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry released a statement saying China is committed to “restoring peace and tranquillity” on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and maintaining communications with India through diplomatic and military channels.
On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation foreign ministers’ meeting in Moscow, Russia, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the “imperative is to immediately stop provocations such as firing and other dangerous actions that violate the commitments made by the two sides”.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s words were directed toward Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar who was part of the meeting.
Wang further stated that troops on the front lines from both countries “must quickly disengage” in order to decrease the rising tensions and that all personnel and equipment that have infringed at the LAC must be shifted.
In a separate statement, the Chinese ministry reported that the two countries agreed to a five-point consensus, which included an agreement on the fact that the current border situation is neither in the interest of India nor China, that the two countries should stick to existing agreements in order to ensure peace, and avoid any steps that could further escalate tensions.
Earlier this week, China and India blamed each other of firing in the air during a clash at the LAC, violating a long-held protocol of not using firearms in the border area.
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had been gathering troops and building military presence along the LAC since April-May 2020.
On June 15/16th China- India had a violent clash at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers.
On 29-30 August, Indian army accused China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers of making ‘provocative military movements’ on the southern bank of Pangong Tso, across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in an attempt to alter the status quo, the Indian army had said in a statement.