China’s new boundary law has India worried

New Delhi, October 27

India has expressed concern over China’s land boundary law passed on October 23.

“China’s unilateral decision to bring about legislation which can have implications on our existing bilateral arrangements on border management as well as on the boundary question is of concern to us,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

He said the passage of the law did not confer any legitimacy to the so-called China Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, which India had consistently maintained was illegal and invalid.

Analysts believe this law which entrusts the border area responsibility to the People’s Liberation Army from January 1 would make any Indian attempts to persuade a pullback in eastern Ladakh difficult. The “Land Boundary Law”, among other things, states that China abides by treaties concluded with or jointly acceded to by foreign countries on land boundary affairs. It also has provisions to carry out re-organisation of districts in the border areas. — TNS