China sticks to its stand; says no incursion by its troops

China sticks to its stand; says no incursion by its troops

                    Ignoring India's demand to revert

to a status-quo in Depsang Valley, China today firmly stuck to

its stand that its troops have not violated the Line of Actual

Control (LAC) in the Ladakh region.

          "I want to reiterate here that the Chinese border troops

have been acting in strict compliance with the bilateral

agreements and conducting normal patrol on the Chinese side of

the LAC. They have never crossed the line", Chinese Foreign

Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here.

          She was replying to a question on yesterday's flag

meeting between the militaries of the two countries in Ladakh

region and subsequent assertion by India that status quo

should be restored.

          Hua's assertion, reiterating her remarks made on April

22, makes it clear that China is sticking to its stand that

there is no violation and its troops may stay put in the area

until it is resolved through the talks.

            Hua said both sides have opened the "communication

channels" to discuss the issue though the consultation

mechanisms on boundary issue.

            But, at the same time she said both sides should stick to

the consensus reached so far on LAC.

            "The two sides should abide by their consensus which is

in the interest of both. The two sides should work together to

properly resolve border issues with in the framework of

existing mechanisms and create favourable conditions for the

bilateral relations", she said.

            This is the first time, after the controversy broke, that

China has acknowledged that the issue is being discussed

between the two countries.