China poses as victims after clash, RIC Foreign Ministers meet hangs in balance

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 16

While the Ministry of External Affairs is still mulling a response, its Chinese counterpart has gone on the offensive by taking on the role of the injured party.

The clashes and the first-ever casualties since 1975 may impair a China-India-Russia Foreign Ministers’ video-conference slated for next week. The expectation was that just as the Doklam stand-off quickly de-accelerated because of an impending summit of BRICS nations in China, this stand-off may also end before Foreign Ministers from the three countries faced the cameras.

“Indian troops crossed the border for illegal activities and launched provocative attacks against Chinese personnel, and the Chinese side has lodged a strong protest and solemn representation,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Also read: Indian Army Colonel, 2 soldiers killed in clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley

A little later, the hawkish media outlet Global Times alleged that Indian troops had again crossed the line of actual control in the Galwan Valley region and “purposefully launched provocative attacks, leading to severe clashes and casualties”.

China said it had lodged a solemn representation with the Indian side and urged it to strictly restrain its frontline troops from crossing the border or taking any unilateral action that may complicate the border situation.

At the same time, it also reiterated the placatory statement it has made ever since the stand-off erupted about seven weeks back.

“China and Indian side agreed to resolve the bilateral issues through dialogue to ease the border situation and maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas,” said the Ministry. Both Foreign Offices have been making similar statements since the stand-off began.