India, China in regular touch for de-escalation in Galwan Valley: MEA
New Delhi, June 18:
Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday answered several questions about the ongoing standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh. The military buildup on both sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley resulted in a violent face-off in which India lost 20 soldiers in the line of duty.
Referring to information the MEA has put in the public domain on the standoff, Anurag Srivastava mentioned the statement from June 16 along with the transcript of a phone conversation between External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday.
“India and China are in constant touch through military and diplomatic channels for de-escalation in eastern Ladakh,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. He further added that both countries agreed on disengagement and de-escalation during the military meet on June 6 at the Moldo border personnel meeting point.
Srivastava also said that ground commanders have been meeting regularly to implement the consensus reached on June 6 but there was a violent face-off on the night of June 15 when the Chinese departed from consensus on respecting the LAC in Galwan Valley. They (Chinese) tried to unilaterally change the status quo and engaged in premeditated violence directly resulting in casualties on both sides, Anurag Srivastava added.
Responding to questions about what is being done to resolve the tension between the two countries, the MEA spokesperson said that commander-level meets are underway. He also clarified that no Indian troops are missing in action as suggested on social media platforms.
Dr S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister (EAM) will be participating in the trilateral Russia-India-China (RIC) meet scheduled for later this month where Russia is the host this time around, Anurag Srivastava said.
