Chinese actions over extended period of time responsible for current situation: Indian envoy on Galwan Valley clash

India on Friday said Chinese actions over an extended period of time are responsible for the current situation on the border and it needs to stop creating obstructions and hindrances in the normal patrolling patterns of Indian troops.

The harsh remarks were made by India's Ambassador to China Vikram Misri in an interview.

As many as 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in a violent face-off in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley earlier this month after an attempt by the Chinese troops to unilaterally change the status quo during the de-escalation in eastern Ladakh.

The clash came even as the two countries were in talks to resolve the dispute at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

In a series of tweets, Misri said he told a news agency that "maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas is sine qua non for progress in rest of bilateral relationship. For resolution, Chinese side needs to stop creating obstructions and hindrances in the normal patrolling patterns of Indian troops."

"Chinese actions over an extended period of time are responsible for the current situation," he said in another tweet.

"Whatever activities we may be carrying out have always been on our side of the LAC so the Chinese need to stop activities to alter the status quo. It is very surprising that they should attempt to do so in a sector which has never before been a sector of concern," the Indian envoy said.

"China’s claim of sovereignty over Galwan Valley in Ladakh is completely untenable. These kinds of exaggerated claims are not going to help the situation," he added.

We hope that the Chinese side will realise its responsibility in de-escalation and disengagement, he further said.

"It is entirely the responsibility of the Chinese side to take a careful view of the relations and to decide in which direction the ties should move," Misri said.